Causes of ano-rectal bleeding.

Introduction Ano-rectal bleeding is a common symptom which may be associated with local conditions such as haemorrhoids and fissures but may also be the presenting symptom with neoplasia, diverticular disease or inflammatory disease of the colon or rectum. Many patients with rectal or colonic disease have associated symptoms such as change of bowel habit or loss of weight, and it is uncertain how frequently such conditions present with the single symptom of rectal bleeding. In order to observe the relative frequency of the conditions that present with ano-rectal bleeding alone, a study was made, over one year, of patients whose sole symptom was rectal bleeding. Each patient was seen at a rectal clinic and all had a full examination, followed by inspection and digital examination of the rectum, sigmoidoscopy and proctoscopy and, when indicated, a barium enema examination. Patients with any other symptom in addition to rectal bleeding were excluded from the study.