Leiomyoma of the rectum.

Rectal leiomyoma is a rare disease. In Japan, only 77 cases were reported before 1984. A study was carried out by compiling information from clinical cases together with two recent cases of rectal leiomyoma. The patients were mainly in their 50s to 60s with a mean age of 53.6 years. The sex ratio of males to females, was 1.5:1. The most common main complaints were anal bleeding and melena and subsequently cylindrical shaped stool or constipation, attributable to rectal stenosis. The tumors were located at 8 cm or less from the anal verge in 87% of the case. Surgery is considered the best method of treatment. Five patients noted a recurrence and three underwent extirpation as their initial operation. Although it is frequently difficult to establish whether leiomyoma is benign or malignant, small lesions (less than 2 cm in diameter) are best treated by local excision.