[The solitary rectal ulcer syndrome]

The solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is a rare debilitating disorder of the rectum characterized by perianal chronic pain with passage of blood and mucus. The pathogenesis remains uncertain, rectal prolapse and trauma from straining are the main hypothesis. The diagnosis includes clinical symptoms associated with endoscopic lesion (erythema, ulcer or polypoïd lesion) and histological features. Mano-metric studies and defecography are helpful to determinate an underlying defecation disorder or rectal prolapse. The treatment is controversial including a conservative option (medications and behavioural therapy) with poor long term results, and the surgical option (treatment of a rectal prolapse with or without resection of the lesion), more aggressive with uncertain results in a long follow-up period.