An unusual rectal mass

Case series of perianal and pelvic MRI imaging findings in monkeypox

Monkeypox is a viral infection historically rarely seen in humans, but currently the focus of international attention due to a multi-country outbreak outside endemic countries of Central and West Africa, where cases are typically confined. Perianal pain and lesions have recently been recognised as a feature of monkeypox. We present a case series of the imaging findings of patients with monkeypox, including active proctitis, anal canal inflammation, and perianal inflammation. The aim is to increase awareness of perianal and rectal monkeypox MRI imaging features during this current outbreak.

'Gay bowel syndrome': relic or real (and returning) phenomenon?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article aims to review the term 'gay bowel syndrome', including the recent research looking at increased rates of bowel infections in men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly in light of the recent Shigella outbreaks in MSM in London and New York, and considers whether 'gay bowel syndrome' is a syndrome that really exists and is worthy of further research and specific treatment, or whether the term continues to be obsolete and not useful.

RECENT FINDINGS

Little or no recent research exists around the concept of a specific syndrome affecting the bowels of MSM. Rather, there seems to be a clustering of diseases in certain high-risk groups, especially those in urban areas with multiple sexual partners, recreational drug use, and possible concomitant HIV infection.

SUMMARY

All healthcare practitioners (including non-sexual health/HIV specialists) need to consider careful and thorough history taking (including sexual history) to identify those at risk.

Sex, lies, and gastrointestinal tract biopsies: a review of selected sexually transmitted proctocolitides

There are many insults that result in gastrointestinal tract inflammation. Infections can be particularly challenging because (1) only a limited number of organisms provoke a specific endoscopic and/or histologic appearance; and (2) although some organisms may be present on biopsies, the findings may be so subtle or organisms so few that they are easily missed if the reviewer is not performing a specific search for the offender. Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are rarely a consideration at the time of GI biopsy examination and clinicians rarely inquire about sexual behavior at the time of initial patient interview. Although establishing a definitive STI diagnosis is not possible on histology alone, these infections are associated with inflammatory patterns that may help raise this diagnostic possibility. Becoming familiar with these patterns is necessary as worldwide outbreaks of these infections are being reported. This review aims to provide the pathologist with histologic clues associated with the most frequently encountered bacterial pathogens in the setting of STI proctitis, namely, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Treponema pallidum.