Anal adenocarcinoma: case report, literature review and comparative survival analysis

IntroductionAnal adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis.MethodsWe present a case of rare anal adenocarcinoma in a patient with normal screening colonoscopy. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result database between 2000 and 2016, we performed survival analysis among individuals>20 years old comparing anal and rectal cancers.ResultsSurvival analysis showed that anal adenocarcinoma is associated with worse outcomes compared with rectal adenocarcinoma and anal squamous cell carcinoma.DiscussionThis case and survival data illustrate the importance of prompt investigation of symptoms irrespective of colorectal cancer screening status with careful attention to examination of the anal area.

Anal Adenocarcinoma: A Rare Malignancy in Need of Multidisciplinary Management

Adenocarcinoma of the anal canal is an uncommon malignancy, making it challenging to perform randomized controlled clinical trials to define best practices in care. For patients with localized disease, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the optimal management, with some physicians advocating for trimodality therapy (similar to the locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma paradigm) and others advocating for definitive radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy (similar to the management of anal squamous cell carcinoma). The objective of this clinical review is to describe the management and outcomes of patients with anal adenocarcinoma to help inform treatment recommendations.