Mucinous adenocarcinoma on perianal fistula. A rising entity?

INTRODUCTION: Mucinous adenocarcinoma on perianal fistula is a rare entity; it could be underdiagnosed because it behaves often as a regular perianal fistula.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have recently treated four cases in our unit. We present them and review the literature, emphasizing on clinical characteristic and therapeutic options. The four patients were male with a mean age of 64. Three of them were classified as locally advances cases and therefore treated with neoadjuvant therapy.

RESULTS: All of them underwent laparoscopic abdominoperineal escisión. Surgical specimens are described and clinical characteristic specified. Review of the literature shows that this disease has a very high potential risk of local recurrence and we must be aggressive with the resection. Sometimes plastic surgery is needed to reconstruct the perianal wound.

CONCLUSIONS: Mucinous adenocarcinoma associated with anal fistula is a rare disease. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by an adequate abdominoperineal excision may result in favourable outcomes.