[Primary clinical, endoscopic and histologic findings in solitary rectal ulcer]

This study presents clinical, endoscopical and histological primary findings of solitary ulcer of the rectum obtained in 24 patients. Solitary ulcer of the rectum is preferably a disease of young women. The main symptom is recurrent rectal bleeding. Endoscopically in 50% of all cases mucosal ulcerations can be observed. The other cases are non-ulcerous lesions with uncharacteristic endoscopical findings. The majority of the lesions are within 6-8 cm of the anal margin. In 44% of the patients there are findings, which are suspicious of preexisting rectal prolapse. The histological main criterion is a fibromuscular hyperplasia of the lamina propria. Full agreement of endoscopical and histological diagnosis at primary examination could be obtained in only 17% of the cases.