Atypical mid rectal localization of squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Squamous cell carcinoma occurring in the rectum is a very rare malignancy. When encountered in the gastrointestinal tract, it usually involves the esophagus or the anal canal. The rare incidence of rectal squamous cell carcinomas has raised quite a few questions on the hypothetical etiologies and prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: In this report, we present a case of a 73 years old woman who presented a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma, at 8 cm from the anal margin. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Optimal treatment sequence of such an uncommon disease is yet to be standardized, surgery was the gold standard management for rectal squamous cell carcinoma, but exclusive chemoradiotherapy is slowly but surely supplanting it. CONCLUSION: This case allows us to engage in discussions over the uncommon location of the rectal SCC and its current treatment management. The exclusive chemoradiation therapy has given excellent results becoming the gold standard treatment of this rare entity.