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Diagnosis and Treatment of Anal Diseases

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2003;46(7):574-580
Publication date (electronic) : 2003 July 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2003.46.7.574
Sang Jeon Lee, M.D.
Department of General Surgery, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine & Hospital, Korea. colon@chungbuk.ac.kr

Abstract

Anal diseases are very common and it is important for a medical practitioner to understand how to deal with these diseases. To establish diagnoses of specific conditions, detailed history taking, inspection, palpation including digital rectal examination, and anoscopic examination are performed. Sigmoidoscopy is also required if upper lesions are suspected. History taking should include information about bleeding, prolapse, swelling, pain, discharge, irritation, bowel habit, continence, abdominal symptoms, weight loss. Sims' position and lithotomy position are commonly used for physical examination of the anal area. In addition to careful inspection and palpation, digital rectal examination should be performed to evaluate the anal canal width and sphincter strength. Above all, digital examination is a very useful and cheap tool to find rectal cancer which commonly occurs after middle-ages. Common anal diseases such as hemorrhoids, anal fissure, perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano, pruritus anai, and rectal prolapse are reviewed.

Keywords: Anal diseases; Hemorrhoids; Anal fissure; Perianal abscess; Fistula-in-ano

References

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Article information Continued

Copyright © 2003 Korean Medical Association

This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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