[Solitary ulcer of the rectum. Description of a case]

A case of solitary rectal ulcer is presented. Different views on the pathogenesis are discussed. Symptoms were nonspecific: anal pain, rectal tenesmus and bleeding. On sigmoidoscopy, the lesion has a characteristic appearance, but the definitive diagnosis of benignity must depend upon the recognition of specific histopathologic features in rectal biopsy specimens from ulcer margins. In this case, the surgical treatment was satisfactory, but frequently neither medical nor surgical treatment achieve relief of symptoms or healing of the lesion.