Solitary Ulcer Syndrome of the Rectum in an Aged Patient Treated With Sigmoidostomy

A rare patient with solitary ulcer syndrome of the rectum was reported. A 78-year-old male with a habit of strong straining on defecation noticed anal bleeding of 2 weeks' duration and consulted us. Preoperative examinations revealed one bleeding ulcer with raised margin at the anterior wall of the. Rectum. The ulcer was pathologically diagnosed as solitary ulcer syndrome of the rectum from its characteristic findings of the biopsy-specimens. Sigmoidostomy was done, because the conservative treatment had no effect on the symptoms and signs and the patient remained in a poor general condition. Since the bleeding stopped completely 2 weeks after surgery and the ulcer became scar phase, sigmoidostoma was closed 4 weeks later. Thereafter, the recurrence was not found 34 months after operation. The pathogenesis as well as surgical treatments for this rare syndrome are discussed, because the considerable uncertainty has yet remained