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Sub-Category:

Anal Cancer

Number of Conditions: 1

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anus

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Rectum and Anus Disorders

Sub-category: Anal Cancer

Symptoms:
anal pain or discomfort; rectal bleeding; a lump or mass near the anus; itching or discharge from the anus; changes in bowel habits; unexplained weight loss

Root Cause:
Malignant tumor originating from squamous cells lining the anal canal, often associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly HPV-16.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination (digital rectal exam), anoscopy or proctoscopy with biopsy, imaging studies (e.g., CT, MRI, or PET scans), and staging using TNM classification.

Treatment:
Chemoradiation therapy (combination of fluorouracil and mitomycin with external beam radiation) is the standard of care for localized disease. Surgery (abdominoperineal resection) is reserved for persistent or recurrent cases.

Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs include mitomycin (antitumor antibiotic) and fluorouracil (antimetabolite chemotherapy). In metastatic or recurrent disease, paclitaxel (taxane class) or cisplatin (platinum-based agent) may be used.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Anal cancer is relatively rare, accounting for less than 2% of gastrointestinal cancers, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most common type.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Persistent HPV infection, receptive anal intercourse, a history of sexually transmitted infections, immunosuppression (e.g., HIV/AIDS), smoking, and older age.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Early-stage anal cancer has a favorable prognosis with a five-year survival rate exceeding 80%. Advanced stages have a poorer prognosis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Treatment-related complications such as radiation proctitis, fecal incontinence, strictures, and fistula formation; metastatic disease can involve the liver or lungs.