Hunner's Ulcers
Encyclopedia
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 Johns Hopkins gynecologist, in a paper delivered to the Boston Medical Society in 1915.
with hydrodistention. The procedure is performed while the patient is under general anaesthetic
and is listed as a day surgery.
(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). Some ulcers may recur in the same location.
Many patients choose to live with the ulcers and treat the symptoms associated with them through bladder instillations or/and pain medication/therapy.
Some find relief by modifying their diet to remove those foods and beverages that appear to trigger symptoms. Examples may be caffeine, particularly coffee (regular and decaf), tea, green tea, soda, artificial sugars and fruit juices. Cranberry juice, for example, can trigger intense pain and discomfort. However, studies about the impact of specific foods and drinks on Hunner's ucler symptoms are limited.
Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome is a chronic, oftentimes severely debilitating disease of the urinary bladder...
.
They form on the wall of the bladder
Urinary bladder
The urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
and, like any ulcer, they can bleed, ooze and vary in size. They were first described by Dr. Guy LeRoy Hunner, 1868–1957, a Johns Hopkins gynecologist, in a paper delivered to the Boston Medical Society in 1915.
Diagnoses
Hunner's Ulcers can only be accurately diagnosed via a cystoscopyCystoscopy
Cystoscopy is endoscopy of the urinary bladder via the urethra. It is carried out with a cystoscope.Diagnostic cystoscopy is usually carried out with local anaesthesia...
with hydrodistention. The procedure is performed while the patient is under general anaesthetic
General anaesthetic
A general anaesthetic is a drug that brings about a reversible loss of consciousness. These drugs are generally administered by an anaesthesia provider to induce or maintain general anaesthesia to facilitate surgery...
and is listed as a day surgery.
Treatment
The ulcers can be removed through fulgurationFulguration
Fulguration, also called electrofulguration, is a procedure to destroy tissue using a high-frequency electric current applied with a needlelike electrode.- External links :...
(burned off with the use of electricity or a laser) or resection
Segmental resection
Segmental resection is a surgical procedure to remove part of an organ or gland. It may also be used to remove a tumor and normal tissue around it. In lung cancer surgery, segmental resection refers to removing a section of a lobe of the lung.- External links :* entry in the public domain NCI...
(cutting around the ulcer, removing both the ulcer and the surrounding inflamed tissue). Some ulcers may recur in the same location.
Many patients choose to live with the ulcers and treat the symptoms associated with them through bladder instillations or/and pain medication/therapy.
Some find relief by modifying their diet to remove those foods and beverages that appear to trigger symptoms. Examples may be caffeine, particularly coffee (regular and decaf), tea, green tea, soda, artificial sugars and fruit juices. Cranberry juice, for example, can trigger intense pain and discomfort. However, studies about the impact of specific foods and drinks on Hunner's ucler symptoms are limited.
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.Support Organizations
- Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) - http://www.ichelp.org
- Interstitial Cystitis Network (ICN) - http://www.ic-network.com
Diet Resources
- A Taste of the Good Life: A Cookbook For An IC Diet (1998), author Beverley Laumann
- Confident Choices - Customizing the Interstitial Cystitis Diet (2005), author Julie Beyer, MA, RD
- Confident Choices - A Cookbook for Interstitial Cystitis and Overactive Bladder (2009), author Julie Beyer, MA, RD