PURPOSE: The purpose of this communication is to report a case of anal
duct/gland cyst and review cases of perianal and presacrococcygeal mu
cus-secreting cysts reported in the literature with emphasis on their
histopathologic features. METHOD: Our patient presented with coccydyni
a. An extraluminal retrorectal tumor was felt on rectal examination. A
computerized tomographic scan demonstrated a presacrococcygeal mass c
losely related to the anorectal junction. The tumor and the coccyx wer
e excised using a posterior approach. Cases of perianal and presacroco
ccpgeal mucus-secreting cysts reported in the literature were reviewed
. RESULTS: In our case, the tumor proved to be an anal duct/gland cyst
. Some of the reported cases of presacrococcygeal glandular cysts had
histopathologic features suggestive of anal duct/gland origin. CONCLUS
ION: Diagnosis of anal duct/gland cyst is based on routine histologic
features, histochemical characteristics of mucus, and/or the presence
of a communication with an anal duct or crypt. Based on these criteria
, some of the reported cases of mucus-secreting cysts occurring around
the anorectum may prove to be anal duct/gland in origin.