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Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome and Obstructed Defecation: Common Pathology

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Pelvic Floor Disorders: Surgical Approach

Part of the book series: Updates in Surgery ((UPDATESSURG))

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Abstract

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is a condition combining disturbances to bowel function and ulcer-related symptoms such as the passage of blood and mucus rectally. Ulceration is not always present but the main feature of the condition is erythema or ulceration of the anterior rectal wall [1]. It was first described by Cruveilhier in 1829 [2]; however, it was not until 1969 that Madigan and Morson [3] proposed the clinicopathological features accepted today. It is an uncommon condition with an annual incidence of 1 in 100,000 to 3.6 in 100,000. It affects young adults, occurring most commonly in the third decade in men and in the fourth decade in women [4], with a slightly higher rate of occurrence in women [5]. As a result of the low incidence/prevalence of SRUS, good-quality articles on etiology and therapy are scarce or even lacking. It is associated with other pelvic floor disorders with overlapping symptomatology. Although a variety of both conservative and surgical therapies have been described, a lack of consensus regarding the exact underlying etiology remains.

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Correspondence to Niels A. T. Wijffels .

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Wijffels, N.A.T., Chambers, W. (2014). Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome and Obstructed Defecation: Common Pathology. In: Gaspari, A.L., Sileri, P. (eds) Pelvic Floor Disorders: Surgical Approach. Updates in Surgery. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5441-7_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5441-7_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-5440-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-5441-7

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