brand logo

Am Fam Physician. 2010;82(4):419-421

The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the U.S. Army Medical Department or the U.S. Army Service at large.

Author disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

A 28-year-old, previously healthy woman presented with several weeks of painful defecation accompanied by a small amount of bleeding. Examination revealed an anal fissure in the anterior position. After several months of conservative treatment with sitz baths, stool softeners, and increased fluid intake, the fissure had not healed. She experienced more pain, bleeding with every bowel movement, and the formation of a nontender skin tag in the anterior position. Topical nitroglycerin and topical diltiazem were not effective, and she continued to develop tags and circumferential fissures (see accompanying figure).

Question

Based on the patient's history and physical examination, which one of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Discussion

The answer is E: perianal Crohn's disease manifested as anal fissures and “elephant ear” skin tags. Crohn's disease is a chronic, transmural disease that can affect any part of the alimentary canal, from the mouth to the perianal tissue.1 The prevalence of Crohn's disease is 26 to 198 per 100,000 persons.1 The disease has a bimodal distribution, with peaks at 15 to 35 and 55 to 75 years of age.2 The etiology is unknown, although genetic and environmental components that cause overactivation of T cells and tissue destruction are likely.3

Perianal disease is the initial sign of Crohn's disease in approximately 20 to 36 percent of persons and can precede active intestinal disease by months to years.4 In this patient, the usual symptoms of Crohn's disease (e.g., diarrhea, weight loss, fever, abdominal pain) were absent at initial presentation.

Lymphatic obstruction from Crohn's disease can cause large, nontender, thick, and bluish or skin-colored perianal skin tags.5 Removal of these skin tags can be associated with poor wound healing.6 Perianal fissures from Crohn's disease tend to occur outside of the anterior/posterior midline and be wide, deep, multiple, and refractory to conservative treatment.

Condylomata acuminata are caused by the human papillomavirus and can appear in the perianal area as gray-tan, cauliflower-like growths that may become very large.7 The patient history may reveal a sex partner with similar lesions. Lesions will turn white with application of dilute acetic acid.8 Pruritus, pain, bleeding, and anal discharge are common symptoms.

Condylomata lata are painless, soft, flat, pink lesions caused by secondary syphilis that may appear in the perianal region.7 The lesions often occur at the same time as the maculopapular rash of secondary syphilis, can produce a large amount of copious discharge, and are highly infectious. Rapid plasma reagin and Venereal Disease Research Laboratories test results are usually positive.

External hemorrhoids are enlarged, painful veins associated with constipation or straining, and are most common in persons older than 50 years and pregnant women.9 They are often noticed when they become thrombosed, and are purple-red and tense on palpation. A nontender anal tag may remain after the resolution of hemorrhoids.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is caused by inflammation of the apocrine sweat glands. It can appear in the anal region as painful nodules with a malodorous discharge. Onset occurs after puberty and before 40 years of age and is associated with hyperhidrosis and oily skin.10 One third of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa have a family history of the condition.10 Axillary and groin involvement are often present.

DiseasePopulation usually affectedAppearance of lesionsPainDrainageHistologyAssociations
Condylomata acuminataSexually activeGray-tan, cauliflower-like, turns white with application of dilute acetic acidPresentPresentKoilocytosisGenital lesions, pruritus, sex partner with similar lesions
Condylomata lataSexually activeSoft, flat, pinkAbsentCopiousCorkscrew Treponema pallidumMaculopapular rash, positive results on rapid plasma reagin and Venereal Disease Research Laboratories testing
External hemorrhoidsOlder than 50 years, pregnant, chronically constipatedRed-purple, tense on palpationPresentBloodySmooth muscle, connective tissue, vascular tissueImprovement with treatment
Hidradenitis suppurativaBetween puberty and 40 years of ageNodular, sinus tractsPresentMalodorousInflamed apocrine tissueHyperhydrosis, oily skin, lesions in groin/axilla, family history
Perianal Crohn's disease15 to 35 and 55 to 75 years of ageLarge, edematous, “elephant ear,” bluish or skin- colored tagsAbsent (accompnying fissures may be painful)AbsentGranulomatous inflammationSystemic symptoms of Crohn's disease, nonhealing, fissures

The editors of AFP welcome submissions for Photo Quiz. Guidelines for preparing and submitting a Photo Quiz manuscript can be found in the Authors' Guide at https://www.aafp.org/afp/photoquizinfo. To be considered for publication, submissions must meet these guidelines. Email submissions to afpphoto@aafp.org.

This series is coordinated by John E. Delzell Jr., MD, MSPH, associate medical editor.

A collection of Photo Quiz published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/photoquiz

Continue Reading


More in AFP

More in PubMed

Copyright © 2010 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.