Giant Ulcers of the Transverse Colon

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Giant ulcers of the colon are rare, and when present are sometimes associated with, or caused by, steroid medication.¹In the case to be briefly reported, no specific etiological agent could be identified. As we have been unable to find any helpful information on discrete colonic ulcers from a recently published book on the pathology of the alimentary canal,²we wonder if your readers have encountered similar cases or have any views on the matter. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> A 72-year-old hypertensive woman, receiving hydrochlorothiazide medication for five years, was hospitalized in January 1971 with hoarseness, rectal bleeding, and anemia. Sigmoidoscopy revealed a small benign rectal ulcer which was biopsied. Because of continued bleeding, the rectum was again inspected and biopsy again showed acute and chronic nonspecific ulceration. A barium enema disclosed what was interpreted as a carcinoma of the transverse colon. A transverse colectomy