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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
It's not always clear what causes solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. Doctors believe stress or injury to the rectum may cause rectal ulcers to form.
Examples of situations that could injure the rectum include:
- Attempts to manually remove impacted stool
- Constipation or impacted stool
- Intussusception, which occurs when part of the intestine slides inside another part
- Radiation therapy used to treat cancer in the abdomen or pelvis
- Rectal prolapse, which occurs when the rectum protrudes from the anus
- Straining during bowel movements
- Use of ergotamine suppositories, an anti-migraine treatment
- Uncoordinated tightening of the pelvic floor muscles that slows blood flow to the rectum
References
- Nagar AB, et al. Ulcers of the small and large intestine. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/179165321-7/0/1389/0.html. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Felt-Bersma RJF, et al. Rectal prolapse, rectal intussusception, rectocele, solitary rectal ulcer syndrome and enterocele. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 2008;37:645.
- Edden Y, et al. Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome and stercoral ulcers. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 2009;38:541.
- Rao SSC, et al. Pathophysiology and role of biofeedback therapy in solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2006;101:613.
- Bharucha AE. Update of tests of colon and rectal structure and function. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 2006;40:96.
- High-fiber nutrition therapy. ADA Nutrition Care Manual. http://nutritioncaremanual.org/vault/editor/Docs/High_FiberNutritionTherapy_FINAL.pdf. Accessed Jan. 26, 2010.
- Constipation. ADA Nutrition Care Manual. http://nutritioncaremanual.org/topic.cfm?ncm_heading=Nutrition%20Care&ncm_toc_id=145248. Accessed Jan. 26, 2010.
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