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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffIn addition to asking about your signs and symptoms, your doctor may use the following tests to assess whether you have rectal ulcers:
- Sigmoidoscopy. In this test, your doctor uses a flexible, slender and lighted tube to examine your rectum and part of your colon. The test usually takes just a few minutes. It can sometimes be uncomfortable, and there's a slight risk of perforating the colon wall. If your doctor finds a lesion, he or she may take a sample biopsy to examine it under a microscope and confirm the diagnosis.
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Ultrasound. Your doctor may also use a test called a transrectal or endoanal ultrasound to help differentiate solitary rectal ulcer syndrome from other conditions such as cancer.
The procedure uses a device called a transducer, which generates and receives high-frequency sound waves that can't be heard by the human ear. The transducer then sends this information to a computer, which composes detailed images based on the patterns created by the sound waves. In this procedure, the ultrasound transducer is inserted into your rectum.
If the test reveals thickening of the rectal wall and internal anal sphincter, for example, it may suggest solitary rectal ulcer syndrome.
- Defecation proctography. During this test, your doctor inserts barium paste, a soft, metallic alkaline chemical, into your rectum. You then pass the barium paste as you would stool. The barium appears clearly on X-rays, allowing your doctor to look for abnormalities in muscle function or coordination. This test can reveal a rectal prolapse, a puborectalis muscle that isn't relaxing and delayed rectal emptying.
