Health Articles

Cancer may develop in the perianal skin, the anal canal, or Ihe lower rectum. Epidermoid carcinoma accounts for 2% of colorectal cancers and 90% of anal cancers. The histologic types of anal carcinoma include squamous cell, basal cell, basaloid squamous, and cloacogenic carcinomas. Other malignant neoplasms include Bowen’s disease (intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma in situ), ex-tramammary Paget’s disease, carcinoid tumor, and malignant melanoma. Cloacogenic carcinoma is most prevalent in patients ages 60 to 70. Factors predisposing persons to anorectal cancer include infections from human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 or human immunodeficiency virus, leukoplakia, lymphogranuloma venereum, chronic fistula formation, irradiation of the anal skin, and organ transplantation.
Symptoms, Signs, and Diagnosis
Bleeding is the mosl common symptom. Other frequent complaints are anal discomfort, constipation, and diminished stool caliber. The presenting feature may be a mass on digital rectal examination, inguinal adenopathy, or perianal dermatitis. Cancer should be considered wilh all nonhealing ulcers or fistulas. Biopsy of all suspicious lesions is essential.
Treatment
The treatment of choice is local surgical excision preceded by a course of radiation therapy and chemotherapy to debul k a large tumor mass. Such radiation therapy and chemotherapy may obviate abdominoperineal resection in many patients. Kulguration with electrocautery and laser photocoagulation are palliative measures in selected cases.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 8th, 2007 at 3:40 am and is filed under The Aging Liver. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Cancer may develop in the perianal skin, the anal canal, or Ihe lower rectum. Epidermoid carcinoma accounts for 2% of colorectal cancers and 90% of anal cancers. The histologic types of anal carcinoma include squamous cell, basal cell, basaloid squamous, and cloacogenic carcinomas. Other malignant neoplasms include Bowen’s disease (intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma in situ), ex-tramammary Paget’s disease, carcinoid tumor, and malignant melanoma. Cloacogenic carcinoma is most prevalent in patients ages 60 to 70. Factors predisposing persons to anorectal cancer include infections from human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 or human immunodeficiency virus, leukoplakia, lymphogranuloma venereum, chronic fistula formation, irradiation of the anal skin, and organ transplantation.
Symptoms, Signs, and Diagnosis
Bleeding is the mosl common symptom. Other frequent complaints are anal discomfort, constipation, and diminished stool caliber. The presenting feature may be a mass on digital rectal examination, inguinal adenopathy, or perianal dermatitis. Cancer should be considered wilh all nonhealing ulcers or fistulas. Biopsy of all suspicious lesions is essential.
Treatment
The treatment of choice is local surgical excision preceded by a course of radiation therapy and chemotherapy to debul k a large tumor mass. Such radiation therapy and chemotherapy may obviate abdominoperineal resection in many patients. Kulguration with electrocautery and laser photocoagulation are palliative measures in selected cases.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 8th, 2007 at 3:40 am and is filed under The Aging Liver. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.