title: Anal cancer: the case for earlier diagnosis.
abstract: The results of treatment in 22 patients with anal carcinoma are reviewed. The overall results are disappointing with only five (28%) surviving more than 5 years. The commonest form of treatment during the study period was an abdomino-perineal excision of rectum (APER). For patients with tumours less than 2 cm in diameter local excision is an acceptable alternative. The majority (76%) of tumours were diagnosed as common benign conditions by the referring practitioners leading to a delay in initiating definitive treatment. Most tumours (81%) were greater than 2 cm in diameter and therefore unsuitable for local excision. There was a high recurrence rate (76%) amongst the group treated by APER. This along with the poor overall survival is probably due to late presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Morus
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors