Chronic anal pain: A review of causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

Knowles, Charles H; Cohen, Richard C · Cleve Clin J Med · 2022

review · Level V

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Abstract

Chronic anal pain is difficult to diagnose and treat, especially with no obvious anorectal cause apparent on clinical examination. This review identifies 3 main diagnostic categories for chronic anal pain: local causes, functional anorectal pain, and neuropathic pain syndromes. Conditions covered within these categories include proctalgia fugax, levator ani syndrome, pudendal neuralgia, and coccygodynia. The signs, symptoms, relevant diagnostic tests, and main treatments for each condition are reviewed.

Medical subject headings