Anal cancer – a review.

Abstract

Anal cancer accounts for only 1.5% of  gastrointestinal malignancies but this disease has shown a steady increase in incidence particularly in HIV positive males. The understanding of pathophysiology and treatment of anal cancer has changed radically over last thirty years . Risk factors have been identified and organ preservation by chemoradiotherapy has become a standard. This article aims to review  the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment options for  anal cancer in the light of current literature .

Key words : anal cancer, anal canal, anal margin, chemoradiotherapy, HIV, HPV, salvage, recurrence, imaging.