Adenocarcinoma of the anal glands: a clinicopathological observation

Objective To investigate the clinicopatholgic features,diagnosis and differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the anal glands.Methods One case of adenocarcinoma of the anal glands was analyzed with light microscopic,histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses and related literature was reviewed.Results The tumor was composed of haphazardly dispersed,small glands with scant mucin production and well differentiation in majority,which invaded the wall of the anorectal area with no obvious intraluminal component observed microscopically.Immunohistochemically,the tumor cells were positive for CEA,CK7,Ki67 and P53,but negative for CK20,CDX2,GCDFP15,P63,PSA and mammoglobin.The fibrous tissues aroud the tumor cells were positive for VG.Conclusion Adenocarcinoma of the anal glands is a rare neoplasm and is easily misdiagnosed as benign disease.The diagnosis and differential diagnosis rely mainly on the general analysis of histopathologic changes,immunohistochemical staining and clinical features.