Abstract
The cause of rectal pain can usually be determined by a detailed history with specific questions regarding character, intensity, and predisposing factors. The differential diagnosis obtained thusly is narrowed down and confirmed by the physical exam. First and foremost, one must determine if the pain is constant or intermittent. Constant pain is usually due to a space-occupying mass from either a neoplastic or inflammatory process compressing on adjacent structures such as the sphincter muscle. Intermittent pain associated with defecation is almost invariably due to an anal fissure.
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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Saclarides, T.J. (1998). Rectal Pain. In: Millikan, K.W., Saclarides, T.J. (eds) Common Surgical Diseases. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2945-0_63
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2945-0_63
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-94983-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-2945-0
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