THE ROLE OF SOME CYTOKINES IN THE FORMATION OF CRYPTOGLANDULAR ANAL FISTULA

Aim. Modern surgical approaches to the treatment of anal fistulas involve operations that least damage the sphincter complex of the rectum. The essence of the operation is a complete excision of the anal fistula, which is often accompanied by a significant number of recurrences depending on the chosen method of operation. Failure is likely the result of inflammation that persists after surgery, and cytokines play an important role in these processes. The aim of the study: evaluate local production and determine the role of IL-6 and TNFα in the formation of rectal fistulas. Materials and methods. The tissue of the fistula tract was obtained in 90 patients of both sexes with transsphincteric fistula of cryptoglandular origin in the period from September 2018 to February 2020, who underwent surgery (fistulotomy, modified technique LIFT, use of biowelding technique of the fistula tract). Results. The frequency of IL-6 producing cells was highest (32.0±4,0) specimens in the field of view not only in inflammatory infiltrate, but also in granulation tissue and immature connective tissue of the fistula tract. The lowest rates of IL-6 producing cells were (23.0±3,0) specimens in the field of view. The frequency of TNFα receptor-producing cells ranged from (17.0±1,0) specimens in the field of view to (24.0±3,0) specimens in the field of view. Conclusions. A large number of IL-6 and TNFα-producing cells has been identified not only in inflammatory infiltration but also in granulation and immatureconnective tissue, indicating the active role of these cytokines in the formation of rectal fistulas.

Late malignancy after 26 years of evolution on an untreated perianal fistula

Squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are two types of neoplasms that rarely affect the perianal region, and their etiology is still a matter for debate. We present the case of a 75 year old patient with a 26 year history of perianal fistula, who presents with purulent and fecal perianal discharge and swelling at this level. Physical examination and anoscopy detected low transsphincteric fistula. The biopsy revealed the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, for which a local excision was performed followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Two years after this event, the patient presented with another perianal lession, which according to the histopathological result was a basal cell carcinoma; local excision was the only treatment performed for this malignancy.