Is the probability of anal fistula turning into cancer high?

Written by Yang Dong

Colorectal Surgery Department

Updated on September 17, 2024

00:00

00:00

An anal fistula, formed due to an anal gland infection, carries a higher risk of malignant transformation if the infection and inflammation are recurrent and persistent, particularly over a long period exceeding five years. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that anal fistulas exceeding five years should be given sufficient attention and surgical treatment should be pursued promptly to prevent malignancy.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Deng Heng

Colorectal Surgery

54sec

home-news-image

Can anal fistula be completely cured?

Anal fistulas rarely heal naturally, and surgery is the only treatment method to achieve healing. The reasons are as follows: Aside from an external opening on the skin around the anus, an anal fistula also has a primary infectious internal opening in the anal crypt. The two openings are interconnected, allowing bacteria and intestinal contents to enter the fistula tract through the internal opening, leading to recurrent infections. Persistent inflammation often prevents pus from draining through the external opening. There are complex relationships between the fistula and the sphincter muscles, and the frequent contraction and relaxation of the sphincter muscles can compress the tract, making it easy for pus to remain and cause infection. Therefore, surgery is necessary to completely cure an anal fistula.

home-news-image

Written by Yu Xu Chao

Colorectal Surgery

1min 6sec

home-news-image

Is it better for the external opening of an anal fistula to be closed or not closed?

In clinical practice, it is generally best not to close the external opening of an anal fistula. Keeping the drainage unobstructed can prevent the infection from worsening or the formation of multiple branches. This is because when the fistula drains properly, the infectious secretions can flow out of the external opening. However, if the external opening does close, the infected tissues and secretions will accumulate within the fistula and then spread to the surrounding areas, forming branches and leading to an increase in the number of branches, thus creating a complex anal fistula and increasing the difficulty of future surgeries. Therefore, it is best not to close the external opening of an anal fistula. Clinically, the treatment for an anal fistula involves fistulectomy, which primarily involves removing the internal opening and the fistula. The external opening also needs to be treated. Postoperatively, medications such as erythromycin ointment gauze strips should be used for dressing changes.

home-news-image

Written by Yang Dong

Colorectal Surgery Department

27sec

home-news-image

How long does it take for the rubber band of an anal fistula to fall off?

For high anal fistulas, we opt for the seton therapy, where we typically use rubber bands as the thread. For the rubber bands used in seton therapy, we believe it is best if they fall off around ten days. Therefore, for the anal fistula rubber bands, we think it is ideal if they fall off in about two weeks at the latest. If they have not fallen off after about two weeks, we may consider further interventions such as cutting the thread or directly cutting the sphincter muscle.

home-news-image

Written by Chen Tian Jing

Colorectal Surgery

1min

home-news-image

How is an anal fistula treated?

The treatment methods for anal fistula mainly involve surgery. Conservative medication for anal fistula does not provide a definitive cure but can alleviate the inflammatory symptoms triggered during acute episodes by using anti-inflammatory symptomatic drugs. The surgical method primarily used for anal fistula is the fistulotomy with seton placement. This procedure involves cutting the local sphincter either partially or completely using a thread, while preserving the function of the surrounding sphincter and thoroughly removing the fistula tract wall to further eliminate the local lesions. After the surgery, due to the large wound area, it is recommended that patients stay in the hospital for dressing changes and symptomatic treatment to avoid complications like poor healing leading to pseudo-healing or wound infection. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

home-news-image

Written by Yang Dong

Colorectal Surgery Department

33sec

home-news-image

What will happen if an anal fistula is not treated?

An anal fistula is a chronic fistula and duct caused by an infection of the anal sinuses. If not treated, an anal fistula may repeatedly flare up. The consequences of repeated occurrences can lead to abscesses, peripheral spreading, and eventually extensive spreading of the loose tissue around the anus, which in severe cases may damage the anal muscles, leading to anal incontinence. If an anal fistula persists for a long time, there is also a possibility of malignant transformation.