Anal Swelling

Name: Anal Swelling - Pulse Reference
Published: 2022-08-01T18:29:33+00:00

Differential Diagnosis

Key distinguishing features of the most common diagnoses

	Prolapsed Pile	Perianal Haematoma	Skin Tags	Perianal Abscess	Rectal Prolapse
Painful	Possible	Yes	No	Yes	No
Intermittent	Possible	No	No	No	Possible
Constipated	Possible	Possible	No	Possible	Possible
Long History	Possible	No	Yes	No	Possible
Rectal Bleeding	Possible	Possible	No	Possible	No

In most cases, investigation will be unnecessary. The only exceptions are warts (in which case referral to the local GUM clinic may be required to screen for sexually transmitted disease) and possible carcinoma (in which case biopsy will be performed in secondary care). Also, any suspicion of Crohn’s disease causing perianal disease would be investigated in hospital in the usual way.

This is one of those situations in which a brief history can be taken while the patient is undressing, or during the examination. Atypically for primary care, it’s the examination, rather than the history, which usually provides the definitive diagnosis.
If a discharge, as well as a lump, is mentioned by the patient, then abscesses, warts, prolapses and fistulae top the list of differentials.
The patient with an anal swelling who has obvious difficulty walking into the consulting room has either an abscess, a large perianal haematoma or strangulated prolapsed piles.

Recurrent or multiple fistulae suggest Crohn’s disease.
If a prolapsed pile is very swollen and painful, it is probably strangulated, and so requires urgent surgical attention.
A persistent, ulcerating anal swelling, especially in the middle-aged or elderly, requires urgent biopsy to exclude carcinoma.