ANAL DUCT GLAND CYST - REPORT OF A CASE AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

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.