Article Text
Summary
A 67-year-old man with a slow-growing, asymptomatic perianal lesion was presented to the colorectal clinic. Physical examination and radiological investigation were suggestive of an externally prolapsing colonic polyp. However, intraoperative findings of a cystic lesion containing a thick brown substance questioned the initial diagnosis. After complete surgical resection of the encapsulated lesion, histological examination revealed a tailgut cyst (cystic hamartoma). These uncommon lesions originate from an embryological remnant of the hindgut. They are generally benign but may have extremely rare malignant potential which warrants complete surgical resection. Throughout the literature, they are described to present with various symptoms and may be found in several anatomical locations, most commonly within the retrorectal space. In very rare instances, with only two other documented cases, they can be found externally at the anorectal junction. Although very rare, an anal tailgut cyst should be taken into account in differential diagnosis.
- Gastrointestinal surgery
- General surgery
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Footnotes
Contributors DH was involved in planning and conception, performed the operation under supervision, wrote some parts of the case, performed an online research, design and revising. JW wrote some parts of this case report, performed an online research and was present during the surgery, involved in concept, design and revising. AC was the responsible consultant, he was involved in planning, conduct, conception and design and revising the article. FK was the histopathologist who provided us with the final diagnosis, involved in interpreting and diagnosing the histology slides, and also was involved in design and revising the article.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.