Navigating Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome: A Surgeon's Conundrum With Rectal Carcinoma in a Young Adult

Cureus. 2024 Sep 3;16(9):e68513. doi: 10.7759/cureus.68513. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is a rare, chronic, and benign disorder. It can be observed as ulcers in the rectal mucosa, solitary or multiple lesions. It can often be misdiagnosed with other intestinal morbidities, due to its clinical similarities. It can be diagnosed by clinical symptoms, radiological tools, and histopathological examination. Management is carried out by conservative methods such as lifestyle and dietary modifications with medical and surgical therapy. This is a case of a 37-year-old female with a major complaint of per-rectal bleeding. Proctoscopy revealed an irregular-ulcerated mass in the rectum, which was managed conservatively. The patient showed improved symptoms after a colonoscopy, at a six-month follow-up.

Keywords: bleeding per rectum; carcinoma rectum; constipation; rectal ulcer; solitary rectal ulcer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports