The investigation of anorectal dysfunction in the solitary rectal ulcer syndrome

To investigate anorectal function in solitary rectal ulcer syndrome 22 patients were studied by means of balloon expulsion, intestinal transit time, barium enema and evacuation proctography. Half of the patients tested had difficulty in expelling a water filled balloon. Delay in intestinal transit was noted in only three patients. Barium enema was of little benefit in diagnosing the condition. Evacuation proctography was the investigation of choice in that it showed at least one abnormality of pelvic floor function in all of the patients and can help select patients for surgery.