title: [Epidermoid carcinoma developing in a chronic anal fistula].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant degeneration of anal fistula is a rare occurrence in the course of a common disease. Abdominoperineal resection offers the only hope of cure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 41-year-old patient who was operated 14 years earlier for anal fistula presented recurrence treated by fistulectomy. Histology revealed a well-differentiated squamous-cell carcinoma. Radiotherapy (45 Gy) was added postoperatively. Five months later, local recurrence was treated by chemotherapy and abdominoperineal resection. Two months later the patient died from cachexia with local recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biopsies of anal fistula tract and histology of all fistulectomies are required for early diagnosis of possible carcinoma. Abdominoperineal resection offers the only hope of cure.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie générale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, Faculté de Médecine-Université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban. abad@dm.net.lb
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ingea
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tayar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abadjian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence