Etymed
proctitis
Definition
inflammation of the rectal mucosa
Clinical context
A 35-year-old man presents with a 2-week history of rectal pain, bleeding, and tenesmus. He reports that the pain is worse during defecation and has noticed bright red blood on the toilet paper. On examination, there is tenderness to palpation of the rectal area with visible erythema of the rectal mucosa. His most likely diagnosis is proctitis.
Mnemonic
PROCTITIS - Pain, Rectal, Open, Cough, Tenderness, Inflammation, Tenesmus, Itching