Crohn’s disease-related anal fistula cancer diagnosed by examination under anesthesia: a case report

BACKGROUND: As the number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases, the incidence of IBD-related colorectal cancer (CRC) is also on the rise. Crohn’s disease (CD)-related CRC has been reported to have a poorer prognosis than sporadic CRC, and the early detection of CD-related CRC is difficult. Japanese patients with CD are reported to have a higher frequency of anorectal cancer than the Western population; however, methods for early diagnosis have not yet been established because of perianal pain during the examination. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of CD-related anal fistula cancer that was detected early by surveillance examination under anesthesia (EUA). The patient was a 37-year-old man, diagnosed with CD at the age of 15 years and started medical treatment. However, due to poor disease control, the intestinal tract remained highly inflamed and the patient continued to have over 10 bowel movements per day. He was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment after a colonoscopy (CS), which revealed multiple active ulcers and stenoses. Since three perianal seton drainage tubes had been placed around his anus since the age of 33 years, we decided to perform an EUA to rule out cancer coexistence in the anorectal region. After a random biopsy of the rectum by CS under general anesthesia, we resected and curetted multiple perianal fistulas as much as possible and reinserted the seton drainage tubes. Pathological examination of the fistula tract revealed adenocarcinoma in one tract, indicating the coexistence of anal fistula cancer. Based on the diagnosis of multiple intestinal stenoses and anal fistula cancer due to CD, we performed hand-assisted laparoscopic total colectomy, rectal amputation, extensive perineal resection, and reconstruction using a left rectus abdominis flap. CONCLUSION: In a long-term CD patient with anorectal lesions, we performed an EUA to diagnose the coexistence of anal fistula cancer at an early stage, and surgical resection was achieved. EUA is effective for the early detection and treatment of CD-related CRC and may contribute to an improved prognosis.