Presentation
Blood in stools and altered bowel habits. Per rectal examination revealed a rectal growth.
Patient Data
Irregular wall thickening (maximum 20mm) involving the posterior and lateral walls of rectum with peri-rectal infiltration, for about a length of 6cm, approximately 8cm from the anal verge.
Subcentimeter (6mm) peri-rectal node noted.
Case Discussion
Rectal cancer is a disease of the elderly, rarely seen before the age of 50. There is a slight male predilection which is not seen in cancers of the rest of the large bowel. Though in this case the patient is female.
Similar to the rest of the colon, the vast majority of rectal tumors are adenocarcinomas (98%) as is this case (histopathologically proven)