Intest Res.  2010 Dec;8(2):172-176. 10.5217/ir.2010.8.2.172.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Rectum: Report of Two Cases

• Kim NR
• Chung DH
• Baek JH
• Park YH
• Kyung HE
• Roh MS
• Ha SY

• KMID: 2284935
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2010.8.2.172

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum is extremely rare. Herein we report two cases of rectal squamous cell carcinoma. Case 1 was a 44-year-old Korean female presenting with abdominal pain and rectal bleeding for 3 months before her hospital visit. A colonoscopic examination revealed an ulcerated rectal mass 8 cm proximal to the anal verge. Chemoradiotherapy was administered following Hartmann's procedure in case 1. The patient remained alive during 19 months of follow up. Case 2 was a 43-year-old Korean female who had severe constipation for 2 months. A barium enema and computed tomography of the pelvis showed a rectal mass adherent to the sacrum. Based on the results of a colonoscopic biopsy, a diverting colostomy was performed in case 2, with no further treatment. The pathologic findings showed that both tumors were composed of oval-shaped cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and intercellular bridges with keratin pearls, and thus were diagnosed as well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Neither of the cases showed evidence of HPV infection. The pathogenesis of rectal squamous cell carcinoma has not been clarified. Herein we report two cases of rectal squamous cell carcinoma and briefly discuss the possible histogenesis.

Keyword

Rectum; Squamous Cell Carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adult
Barium
Biopsy
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Chemoradiotherapy
Colostomy
Constipation
Cytoplasm
Enema
Eosinophils
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hemorrhage
Humans
Keratins
Pelvis
Rectum
Sacrum
Ulcer
Barium
Keratins