Rectal Bleeding in the Clinic

ABSTRACT Anal cancer is a rare malignancy with an estimated 8,580 new cases each year in the USA where hematochezia, a common condition, is often the initial presenting sign. We describe a 51-year-old woman who presented with painful hematochezia, with a delayed diagnosis of anal cancer in the setti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2023-03, Vol.188 (3-4), p.e875-e877
Main Authors: Mangalindan, Kristin E, Bush, Allison, Nguyen, Nhu An
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anus Neoplasms
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - diagnosis
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology
Humans
Middle Aged
Pain
Rectum
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Summary:ABSTRACT Anal cancer is a rare malignancy with an estimated 8,580 new cases each year in the USA where hematochezia, a common condition, is often the initial presenting sign. We describe a 51-year-old woman who presented with painful hematochezia, with a delayed diagnosis of anal cancer in the setting of missed and misdiagnosed digital rectal exams in an otherwise low-risk patient. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis for hematochezia and the utility of thorough physical exams.
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.1093/milmed/usab211