ENDOSCOPIC VIEW OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS PROCTITIS

Abstract

The typical endoscopic appearance of Chlamydia trachomatis proctitis is described as “salmon roe-like rectal mucosa” or “semispherical nodules.” However, we experienced cases with an atypical appearance of Chlamydia trachomatis proctitis, and we here report findings of colonoscopic examinations of such cases. We surveyed findings of 28 cases with the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis proctitis. In many of our cases of Chlamydia trachomatis proctitis nodules were absent or the patient had atypical nodular lesions. At the first colonoscopic examination of the 28 cases, 3 (10.7%) had semispherical nodules, 15 (53.6%) had short nodules and 10 (35.7%) did not have nodules. Among these 10 cases, the lesions were described as “erosion,” “aphtha,” or “erythematous.” We believe that atypical colonoscopic findings of Chlamydia trachomatis proctitis occur in many cases and that there is a need for accumulation and consideration of more such cases.