title: Leiomyosarcoma of the anal canal: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: A rare case of a leiomyosarcoma of the anal canal is presented. A 68-year-old male presented with painful defecation and rectal bleeding. Endorectal ultrasound revealed a mass invading both sphincters (T4 lesion), and extending 6 cm into the anal canal. Colonoscopy revealed an ulcerated area in the anal canal, of which biopsies revealed high-grade leiomyosarcoma--only the eighteenth such case at the time of this submission. The details of the case and teaching images are presented in detail, as is a comprehensive review of the relevant literature.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Liza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thalheimer
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lohan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male