Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is categorized according to location:

Proctitis involves only the rectum
Proctosigmoiditis affects the rectum and sigmoid colon
Left-sided colitis encompasses the entire left side of the large intestine
Pancolitis inflames the entire colon

Review Date: 8/7/2023

Reviewed By

Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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Health Encyclopedia

Ulcerative colitis