Rectal mass

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.