Rectal prolapse as the initial presentation of rectal cancer-A case report

Oliver Jurić; Nataša Lisica Šikić; Vanja Žufić; Luka Matak; Robert Karlo; Jakov Mihanović

doi:10.3389/fsurg.2023.1176726

Rectal prolapse as the initial presentation of rectal cancer-A case report

Front Surg. 2023 Apr 11:10:1176726. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2023.1176726. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Oliver Jurić^{1

2}, Nataša Lisica Šikić^{2

3}, Vanja Žufić^{1

2}, Luka Matak^{2

4}, Robert Karlo^{1

2}, Jakov Mihanović^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Zadar General Hospital, Zadar, Croatia.
² Department of Health Studies, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia.
³ Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, Zadar General Hospital, Zadar, Croatia.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital Zadar, Zadar, Croatia.

Abstract

Herein we report the case of a 63-year-old female tourist who presented to our Emergency Department with complete rectal prolapse. She had complained of diarrhea with traces of blood and mucus and had experienced fatigue after hiking. After the initial evaluation, it became clear that prolapse bares a large rectal tumor as a leading point. The prolapse was reduced under general anesthesia, along with a tumor biopsy. Further workup confirmed locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the rectum, which was treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by curative surgery in another hospital after repatriation. Rectal prolapse affects people of all ages, but it is more common in older adults, particularly women. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the prolapse and can range from conservative measures to surgical interventions. This case report highlights the importance of early recognition and appropriate management of rectal prolapse in the emergency setting and the possibility of an underlying malignancy.

Keywords: anemia; case report; emergency department (ED); rectal cancer; rectal prolapse.

Publication types

Case Reports

Grants and funding

We have applied for the APF discount and are awaiting a reply. We are submitting the manuscript before the verdict on the discount because of the expiring deadline.