Overview
- Rectal masses may be intraluminal, mural or palpable through the rectum but arising from outside of it.
Causes
Rectal
Mural origin
- rectal carcinoma
- rectal polyp
- hypertrophied anal papilla
- diverticula phlegmon
- Prostatic or cervical malignancy (direct extension)
- amebic granuloma
Intra-luminal origin
- sigmoid colon carcinoma (prolapse into pouch of Douglas)
- foreign body
- feces
Extra-rectal origin
- endometriosis
- pelvic abscess or sarcoma
- metastatic deposits in pelvis (Blumer’s shelf)
- Uterine or ovarian malignancy
- Prostatic or cervical malignancy (direct extension)
References and Links
- Talley NJ, O’Connor S. Clinical Examination: A Systematic Guide to Physical Diagnosis. MacLennan and Petty. 3rd edition, 1998.
Leave a comment...