). The main symptom is bleeding with defecation. Diagnosis is by endoscopy. Treatment options include excision and chemotherapy and radiation therapy.Squamous cell carcinoma (nonkeratinizing squamous cell or basaloid carcinoma) of the anorectum accounts for 3 to 5% of distal large-bowel cancers. Basal cell carcinoma Basal Cell Carcinoma Basal cell carcinoma is a superficial, slowly growing papule or nodule that derives from certain epidermal cells. Basal cell carcinomas arise from keratinocytes near the basal layer, which are... read more 
, Bowen disease Bowen Disease Bowen disease is a superficial squamous cell carcinoma in situ. Diagnosis is by biopsy. Treatment depends on the tumor’s characteristics and may involve curettage and electrodesiccation, surgical... read more 
(intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma), extramammary Paget disease, cloacogenic carcinoma, and malignant melanoma Melanoma Malignant melanoma arises from melanocytes in a pigmented area (eg, skin, mucous membranes, eyes, or central nervous system). Metastasis is correlated with depth of dermal invasion. With spread... read more 
are less common. Other tumors include lymphoma Overview of Lymphoma Lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors arising in the reticuloendothelial and lymphatic systems. The major types are Hodgkin lymphoma Non-Hodgkin lymphoma See table Comparison of Hodgkin... read more and various sarcomas. Metastasis occurs along the lymphatics of the rectum and into the inguinal lymph nodes.
Risk factors for anal cancer include the following:
Irradiated anal skin
Smoking
People having receptive anal intercourse are at increased risk. Patients with HPV infection may manifest dysplasia in slightly abnormal or normal-appearing anal epithelium (anal intraepithelial neoplasia—histologically graded I, II, or III). These changes are more common among HIV-infected patients (see Squamous cell cancer of the anus and vulva Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus or vulva AIDS-defining cancers in patients infected with HIV are Kaposi sarcoma Lymphoma, Burkitt (or equivalent term) Lymphoma, immunoblastic (or equivalent term) Lymphoma, primary, of central nervous system read more ). Higher grades may progress to invasive carcinoma. It is unclear whether early recognition and eradication improve long-term outcome; hence, screening recommendations are unclear.
General reference
1. Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A: Cancer statistics, 2020. CA Cancer J Clin 70(1):7–30, 2020. doi: 10.3322/caac.21590
Symptoms and Signs of Anal Cancer
Bleeding with defecation is the most common initial symptom of anal cancer. Some patients have pain, tenesmus, or a sensation of incomplete evacuation. A mass may be palpable on digital rectal examination.
Diagnosis of Anal Cancer
Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy
Sometimes biopsy
A flexible sigmoidoscopy or rigid anoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is done to evaluate the area. Skin biopsy by a dermatologist or surgeon might be needed for lesions near the squamocolumnar junction (Z line). Whenever rectal bleeding occurs, even in patients with obvious hemorrhoids or known diverticular disease, coexisting cancer must be ruled out.
Staging by CT, MRI, or positron emission tomography (PET) is advisable.
Treatment of Anal Cancer
Combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy
Sometimes surgical resection
Combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the initial therapy in most cases and results in a high rate of cure when used for anal squamous and cloacogenic tumors.
Abdominoperineal resection is indicated when radiation and chemotherapy do not result in complete regression of the tumor or there is recurrent disease.
