Ulcerative colitis in the anal canal of patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy.

The development of stapling instruments has obviated the need to perform anal mucosectomy for ulcerative colitis, but the potential exists for continued inflammation and, perhaps, malignant change. We reviewed the pathology specimens of patients who had had restorative proctocolectomy, to determine the incidence and severity of inflammation in the anal mucosa.