Sigmoid colon cancer presenting as complete rectal prolapse: Report of a case

We describe herein the unusual case of a 76-year-old woman who was diagnose d as having sigmoid colon cancer after presenting with complete rectal prol apse. The rectal prolapse was considered to have been caused by constipatio n accelerated by the colon cancer. The relationship between colorectal canc er and rectal prolapse has not yet been clarified: however, this case repor t suggests that rectal prolapse can present as a symptom of colorectal canc er, Thus, patients with a sudden onset of rectal prolapse should be screene d for colorectal cancer.