In total, 49 cases of anal tumor were studied, 23 cases from 1979-1996 and 26 cases from 1997-2004. From the cases studied, 49 % were male and 51 % were female patients. Patients that were submitted to radio and chemotherapy by the "nigro scheme" totalized 81.6 %; 12.2 % presented metastasis, 36.7 % lost follow up and 20.4 % died. There was a reduction of the Miles surgery indication (30.8 % vs 43.3 %) and the follow up loss (19.5 % vs 56.5 %). The mortality rate was a little higher (23.1 % vs 17.4 %). Radio and chemotherapy was used in 96 % of patients, and promoted lesion remission in 57.5 % of cases (confirmed by negative anal scar biopsy), avoiding the anal amputation surgery indication. Recent data indicate that 45 % of patients (3.5 years of average follow up) are still with no recidivated tumor. The prevalence of high mortality rates and the diagnosis of high stage lesions are due to a delay of patients in search for a diagnosis. This might be due to a difficult access to a medical service and to the low social-economical level of our patients. These conditions make the diagnosis and treatment of anal tumors difficult, impairing its prognosis.
Anal tumor; casuistic; epidemiology
