Small-cell carcinoma of the anal canal : Case report of a rare tumor

Small-cell carcinoma affecting the anal canal is an extremely rare and aggressive tumor. The majority of cases are found with distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. We present a case of a 53-year-old male, who was diagnosed with this rare malignancy. Despite aggressive treatment consisting of radio-chemotherapy, the disease progressed rapidly with metastases occurring 12 months following the initial diagnosis. In summary, final diagnosis requires careful histological and immunohistochemical examination to determine the therapeutic strategy to be followed. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for small-cell carcinoma of the anus. Radiotherapy exerts additional activity and remains a prime choice to gain local control. In this report we aim to describe the clinical, pathological features of this rare entity, and to discuss therapeutic options.