Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the Anus

Synonyms

Neuroendocrine carcinoma; Neuroendocrine tumors; Small cell carcinoma

Definition

Neuroendocrine neoplasms very rarely occur in the anus. There is no case of anal carcinoid tumor described in the literature, but some cases have perhaps been assimilated to rectal tumors. There are only rare isolated case reports of anal neuroendocrine carcinoma, small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and composite neuroendocrine carcinoma – in situ squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma published in the literature.

Clinical Features

Patients complain of anal pain, rectal bleeding, and the presence of a perianal mass.

• Site

  The neuroendocrine tumors probably arise from neuroendocrine cells residing in colorectal type mucosa or in the anal transitional zone mucosa.

• Incidence, age, sex

  Due to the rarity of these tumors, it is difficult to assess the prevalence of this entity, the sex ratio, and the age of patients.

• Treatment

  There is no standard treatment for this rare tumor. A few patients have...