Hunner's Ulcers occur in 5 to 10 percent of people who have the disease Interstitial cystitis. They form on the wall of the bladder and, like any ulcer, they can bleed, ooze and vary in size. They were first described by Dr. Guy LeRoy Hunner, 1868–1957, a Baltimore urologist, in a paper delivered to the Boston Medical Society in 1915 [1]. Interstitial cystitis (commonly abbreviated to IC) is a urinary bladder disease of unknown cause characterised by urinary frequency (as often as every 10 minutes), urgency, pressure and/or pain in the bladder and/or pelvis. ... In the anatomy of mammals, the urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular and distensible or elastic organ that sits on the pelvic floor. ... Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer. ...

Diagnoses

Hunner's Ulcers can only be accurately diagnosed via a hydrodistention. The procedure is performed while the patient is under general anaesthetic and is listed as a day surgery. A General is an officer of high military rank. ... Anesthesia (AE), also anaesthesia (BE), is the process of blocking the perception of pain and other sensations. ...

Treatment

The ulcers can be removed through fulguration (burned off with the use of electricity or a laser) or resection (cutting around the ulcer, removing both the ulcer and the surrounding inflamed tissue). Resection is a method of orientation (direction or position finding) using a compass and topographic map. ...

Many patients choose to live with the ulcers and treat the symptoms associated with them through bladder instillations or/and pain medication/therapy.

Prevention

The drug Elmiron helps to prevent the formation of Hunner's Ulcers by coating the bladder wall, thus making it harder for the acid in urine to irritate the bladder wall lining, which can lead to ulceration. Pentosan Polysulfate Pentosan polysulfate (sold under the name Elmiron) relieves bladder along with discomfort related to interstitial cystitis, a disease that causes swelling and scarring of the bladder wall. ...

Notes

1. J. P. MacDermott, G. L. Charpied, H. Tesluk and A. R. Stone. Histological changes in interstitial cystitis. International Urogynecology Journal, Volume 4, Number 4, 1993, 246-249.

External links

• ICN handbook, includes information on treatments for Hunner's Ulcers
• AAFP information on Interstitial Cystitis. Includes a picture of an IC bladder with Hunner's ulcer(s)
• Uro-Gynecology
  • www.uro-gynecology.com- Uro-Gynecology information and resources