Heterotopic gastric mucosa of the rectum. A rare cause of rectal bleeding.

We studied a patient with rectal gastric heterotopia and found nine reported cases of this rare disease in the literature. Symptoms include proctitis and rectal bleeding. Heterotopic gastric epithelium may be developmental or acquired, depending on the type of mucosal epithelium involved. Since this type of lesion can occur anywhere in the alimentary tract and even in multiple sites, long-term follow-up is recommended. The diagnosis is made by biopsy and pathologic examination. The treatment consists of total local excision. Sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and technetium scanning can be used as adjunctive aids in diagnosing secondary sites of gastric heterotopia.