Proctalgia fugax is best described as which of the following?

Proctalgia fugax is best described as which of the following?

• A. Chronic dull abdominal pain.
• B. Episodic, sudden anorectal pain lasting seconds to minutes with a normal exam.
• C. Rectal bleeding.
• D. Persistent constipation.

Answer: (B)

Proctalgia fugax is a benign, episodic anorectal pain syndrome. The hallmark is sudden, intense rectal or anal pain that lasts only seconds to minutes, with a normal rectal exam between episodes. This pattern—brief, of abrupt onset, and occurring in the absence of visible pathology on exam—fits best because it distinguishes this condition from other causes of abdominal or rectal symptoms. The pain is thought to come from transient spasm of the anal sphincter or pelvic floor muscles. Because the exam is normal and there are no persistent symptoms or red-flag signs, extensive testing isn’t typically needed. Management focuses on reassurance and simple measures to ease episodes, such as warm baths or pelvic floor relaxation; more rarely, short-acting muscle relaxants or other symptomatic therapies may be considered. The other descriptions don’t fit: chronic dull abdominal pain implies a different, non-anorectal process; rectal bleeding points to a mucosal lesion or inflammatory process; persistent constipation involves bowel habits rather than brief episodic rectal pain with a normal exam.

Proctalgia fugax is a benign, episodic anorectal pain syndrome. The hallmark is sudden, intense rectal or anal pain that lasts only seconds to minutes, with a normal rectal exam between episodes. This pattern—brief, of abrupt onset, and occurring in the absence of visible pathology on exam—fits best because it distinguishes this condition from other causes of abdominal or rectal symptoms.

The pain is thought to come from transient spasm of the anal sphincter or pelvic floor muscles. Because the exam is normal and there are no persistent symptoms or red-flag signs, extensive testing isn’t typically needed. Management focuses on reassurance and simple measures to ease episodes, such as warm baths or pelvic floor relaxation; more rarely, short-acting muscle relaxants or other symptomatic therapies may be considered.

The other descriptions don’t fit: chronic dull abdominal pain implies a different, non-anorectal process; rectal bleeding points to a mucosal lesion or inflammatory process; persistent constipation involves bowel habits rather than brief episodic rectal pain with a normal exam.