Benign solitary cecal ulcer is a benign disorder of uncertain etiology. It needs to be distinguished from other cecal conditions.
Clinical presentation - one or more of the following:
(1) right lower quadrant abdominal pain
(2) gastrointestinal hemorrhage
(3) cecal perforation
(4) palpable cecal mass
(5) leukocytosis
(6) enlarged lymph nodes on imaging studies
Differential diagnosis of a cecal ulcer and/or mass:
(1) carcinoma
(2) appendicitis
(3) intestinal Behcet's
(4) infection (Campylobacter, amebic colitis, etc)
(5) NSAIDS
(6) inflammatory bowel disease
The diagnosis often is made by histologic exam of a resected right colon with exclusion of alternative diagnoses.
Common location: antimesenteric surface within 2 cm of ileocecal valve
Histologic features:
(1) cecal ulceration which may be superficial or deep
(2) acute and chronic inflammation
(3) benign lymphoid hyperplasia in regional lymph nodes
