CYCLICAL RECTAL BLEEDING IN COLORECTAL ENDOMETRIOSIS

M D Levitt, Michael Levitt, K J Hodby, A J van Merwyk, Anthony J. van Merwyk, R J Glancy
The Australian and New Zealand journal of surgery · 1989 · vol. 59(12) , pp. 941–943 · doi:10.1111/j.1445-2197.1989.tb07635.x · PMID:2597100 · W1982433375
article OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 23 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

These case reports highlight the link between cyclical rectal bleeding and intestinal endometriosis, suggesting bleeding may result from mucosal tears caused by underlying endometriotic swelling rather than direct menstruation.

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Abstract

Three case reports of cyclical rectal bleeding in endometriosis affecting rectum and sigmoid colon emphasize the close relationship between such cyclical bleeding and intestinal endometriosis. The cause of bleeding, however, is still unclear. The predilection of endometriotic deposits for the outer layers of the bowel wall suggests that mucosal involvement is not a prerequisite for rectal bleeding. The frequent absence of identifiable intramural haemorrhage casts doubt on the premise that intestinal endometriotic deposits 'menstruate'. The cause may simply be a transient tear in normal mucosa due to swelling of an underlying endometriotic deposit at the time of menstruation.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Colonic Neoplasms Endometriosis Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Periodicity Rectal Neoplasms Adult Colonic Neoplasms Colonic Neoplasms Colonic Neoplasms Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Humans Menstrual Cycle Rectal Neoplasms Rectal Neoplasms Rectal Neoplasms Rectum

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (19)

Cited by (23)

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