Epidermoid carcinoma compared with adenocarcinoma of the anal canal

Sixty-five cases of anal carcinoma have been treated in the past 20 years - 44 adenocarcinomas, 15 epidermoid carcinomas and 6 others. The sex ratio of male to female was 2:13 among those with epidermoid carcinoma and 27:17 in the adenocarcinoma group. There was no significant difference between the five-year survival associated with both kinds of carcinoma, though adenocarcinomas invaded more deeply and were larger. Lymph node metastases were found in 60% of cases in each group, but inguinal metastases were found in 47% of epidermoid carcinomas and 32% of adenocarcinomas; lung and liver metastases were seen in 13% of the former and 18% of the latter (there was no statistical significance). A new staging is proposed, supported by the five-year survival rate (in parentheses), as follows: stage 1-T1, T2, NO, MO (100%); Stage II - T3, T4, NO, Mo (66.7%) Stage III - any T, N1, MO (31.6%); Stage IV - any T, any N, M1 (0%).