Summary and Conclusions
Eight patients who had cancer and fistula-in-ano were studied. In our opinion, four of these patients had malignancy originating from long-standing fistulas. The other four had cancer with secondary fistulas.
Fistula is the anorectal disease most liable to suffer malignant degeneration. Histopathologically, it may be either epidermoid carcinoma or adenocarcinoma.
The diagnosis of fistula invaded by cancer is based on prior observation of the patient and nonmalignancy of the primary opening. Nevertheless, if the process is well advanced, the cancer may invade all the fistulous tract including the primary opening.
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Read at the meeting of the American Proctologic Society, Miami Beach, Florida, April 30 to May 3, 1962.
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Schwartz, A. Anorectal fistula and cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 6, 305–307 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02617271
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02617271