Cancer of the Anus: A Five Year Review of Cases at Gondar University Hospital and a Thirty-Five Year Experience of a Single Surgeon

Abstract

Cancers of the Anus are rare, constituting approximately 2% of colon, rectal, and anal malignancies. Considering
its rarity, the authors describe the experience with this rare disease over a 5-year period in Ethiopian patients
treated at Gondar University Hospital as well as cases personally treated by a single general surgeon over a 35-
year period. In this series, we have demonstrated that surgery remains an important treatment modality, especially
where alternate therapeutic options are limited even though chemoradiotherapy has emerged as the best initial
approach to the treatment of anal cancer. At Gondar University hospital both a higher relative incidence of anal
cancer was detected in patients with cancer of the colon, rectum, and anus (12% Vs 2%) with a higher incidence in
males (83.3%). We have demonstrated that in selected cases anal sphincter involvement does not always dictate
abdominoperineal resection. In addition digital rectal examination with biopsy of any suspicious lesion is advised
for patients at increased risk.