Carcinoid tumours of the anorectum

Carcinoid tumours of the anorectum are very rare and comprise only 0.1 per cent of all rectal tumours. Their behaviour and treatment are still debatable. We identified 8 cases during a ten year period from records of two service hospitals; 6 were benign and 2 were malignant. Salient clinical and pathological features have been discussed. All benign tumours were cured by local treatment. Both patients with malignant tumours died despite radical surgical treatment.