&NA;Proctitis cystica profunda is an uncommon benign rectal condition with a range of appearances that has led to confusion in nomenclature. In a personal series of 28 patients with histologically proven proctitis cystica profunda, over 50 per cent had associated rectal prolapse. Cure of the prolapse cured the proctitis cystica, profunda in 80 per cent of the patients only. Direct surgical excision (local or segmental) has not been successful and two patients have required a stoma for relief of pain.