Anal cancers. Squamous and melanoma

The total experience at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with two types of anal cancers--squamous and malignant melanoma--is reviewed. The squamous type is much more common, and its anatomic distinction between that of the anal margin and the anal canal is important in its respective clinical and surgical management. The historical, purely surgical management of canal lesions has evolved into the current chemoirradiation management, followed by the surgical approach with improvement of the 5-year survival rate and salvage of rectums. Malignant melanoma, which is the much rarer anal cancer, is still occasionally salvageable, with the use of standard abdominoperineal resection.