Simple Nonspecific Ulcers of the Sigmoid Colon

A simple nonspecific ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract is one in which all known causes of ulceration have been ruled out. Specifically this excludes all ulcers due to chronic granulomatous diseases, amebic ulcers, bacterial ulcers such as typhoid, and ulcers due to spirochetes such as syphilitic ulcers. This also excludes those ulcers due to trauma, volvulus, intussusception, vascular thrombosis, or diverticuli of the bowel. Ulcerative colitis and regional ileitis ulcerations are also excluded. The remaining ulcers which have been labeled simple or nonspecific ulcers may occur at any point along the gastrointestinal tract. This study is a review of those cases which occurred in the sigmoid colon and adds one additional case to the literature which is the youngest case ever reported. A very complete review of the world literature on simple ulcers of the colon was made by Barron2in 1928. He reported 53 cases complete with case