[Adenocarcinoma of the anal canal. Narrative review]

Abstract

Adenocarcinoma (ADC) of the anal canal is a rare disease comprising only 5% of all anorectal neoplasias and 1.5% of all gastrointestinal tumours. The World Health Organisation classifies anal ADC into 3 types: the first may arise from the mucosa of the transitional zone in the upper canal, the second from the anal glands (ducts) and the last can develop in the environment of a chronic anorectal fistula. Patients with ADC of the anal canal have high rates of pelvic failure, distant metastasis, and lower overall survival than patients with epidermoid carcinoma. Because of limited case reports about this neoplasia, management strategies have not been well established. Most authors of related studies recommend preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by radical surgery. The aim of the present study is to review clinicopathology features and management of anal canal ADC.