Examination of rectal mucosal prolapse syndrome requiring differentiation from rectal tumor

Abstract

Rectal mucosal prolapse syndrome (MPS) is a benign disease caused by repeated deviations of the rectal mucosa; however, MPS is sometimes misdiagnosed as a rectal tumor. This study aimed to review MPS cases which had a problem in differential diagnosis with rectal tumors. We extracted and analyzed 7 cases of MPS which had been diagnosed as rectal tumors by a previous physician from 31 cases of MPS in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2018. Of the 7 cases, 3 cases were the protrusion type and 4 cases were the ulcer type. In all cases, rectal tumors were suspected on colonoscopy, and a biopsy was performed. The histopathological diagnoses were Group 5 in 2 cases, Group 4 in 1 case, Group 3 in 1 case, Group 2 in 1 case, and Group 1 in 2 cases. In cases of suspected MPS, a biopsy must be performed, and it is important to share the clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings with a pathologist and proceed with careful diagnosis to distinguish it from rectal tumors.