Rectal Ulcer Definition

It is a chronic, uncommon, inflammatory, benign disorder of young adults, influencing the rectum, where it is frequently linked to painful or abnormal defection with bleeding, passage of mucus, straining during defecation, and a sense of incomplete evacuation which is related to mucosal prolapse and rarely to underlying malignancy.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is an under-diagnosed disease with very low disease awareness and with a varied clinical presentation, protean endoscopic appearance, yet characteristic histologic features in all over the world. There are approximately 100.0000 people with solitary rectal syndrome. It is not a very common disease. It can be defines as the ulceration of the rectal wall. Together with this ulceration, histological factors also play an important role. Rectal bleeding and burden takes place when the patient passes bowel activities. Solitary rectal syndrome may have repeated disease cycles. Some patients may have multiple lesions that are not ulcers like polyp like masses. People who have chronic spasm or injuries of the rectum constitute the disease population of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. Among the physicians, specialists of colon and rectum disorders are the reference group to diagnose and treat solitary rectal ulcers.

What is the history of Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome?

Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome was first reported in 1829 and defined in 1830 by Cruveilhier with the four reported rectal ulcer patients. By the end of 1930’s Lloyd Davis defined rectal ulcer as solitary rectal ulcer syndrome yet clinical manifestations and histopathology were not described until 1969. When Morson and Madigan resported 68 cases with a comprehensive review 1969, the disease became a well known condition. Thus STUS is first recognized as a clinical entity in 1969. In 1970’s Riddell and Rutter announced a more pathogenic view of the solitary rectal ulcer syndrome where they bridged it with the impact of rectal mucosal prolapse.