Diagnosis and management of nonspecific colon ulcer

F. V. Ona, H. D. Allende, R. Vivenzio, D. A. Zaky and N. Nadaraja

This report describes seven cases of nonspecific colon ulcers and analysis of the additional 120 cases reported in the literature through 1980. The total current series is compared with the two earlier reviews. Our findings showed that nonspecific colon ulcers occur in all age groups, predominantly 40 to 60 years, with slight predilection to female sex. The man clinical manifestations include abdominal pain mimicking appendicitis (50%), lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage (33%), perforation (19%), and abdominal mass (16%). The usual location of the ulcers is the cecum and ascending colon (67%), then transverse, hepatic, and splenic flexures (18%), and descending and sigmoid colon (15%). The diagnosis is best established by colonoscopy. The nonoperative conservative management is probably indicated in the uncomplicated cases with follow-up colonoscopic studies to ensure complete healing. The etiology of this condition is still unknown.