Inflammatory tumours in the rectum clinically simulating cancer

Four patients were admitted to our department after discovery of a palpable mass in the rectal ampulla. All lesions were clinically interpreted as malignant neoplasms. Repeated examinations with biopsies showed nonspecific, inflammatory tumours in all cases. Inflammatory tumours of the rectum may occur in a number of diseases. The lesions in two patients may have their origin in the solitary ulcer of the rectum or colitis cystica profunda, while this diagnosis for certain was made in the fourth patient. The third described patient had a palpable mass in the rectal ampulla after a difficult urethral dilatation, and the mass gradually subsided without treatment. The clinical misinterpretation of inflammatory tumours as malignant neoplasms has been responsible for a considerable number of unnecessary surgical procedures.