[Management of anal canal carcinoma]

Although anal canal squamous cell carcinoma is rare, the general practitioner should consider this diagnosis in a patient with persistent lower abdominal symptoms. While classically observed in older women, an increased incidence is also seen in HIV-positive patients or patients with a history of human papillomavirus infection. Initial diagnosis and local work-up require assessment by a proctologist. Standard curative treatment combines radiotherapy with 5-FU- and MMC-based chemotherapy. Salvage surgery should be discussed in case of local relapse. The general practitioner, the proctologist and the radiation oncologist, all participate in post-treatment surveillance.