Differential diagnosis of the most frequent perianal lesions in a general practitioner’s surgery

Overview

Discomfort in the anal area is a common complaint of patients seeking surgical treatment, some of whom have been referred by their general practitioner. This article makes recommendations on how to examine these patients at GP surgeries, including a description of the basic differential diagnoses. It also describes how and when it is possible to provide outpatient treatment by the GP and in what kind of situations patients are indicated for specialized examination. Above all it is necessary to assess whether it is an acute condition in need of immediate surgical intervention or whether it is a matter of chronic difficulties indicated for elective examination. If it is a chronic condition, the type of examination must be properly considered and the correct specialist for referral selected (gastroenterologist, surgeon, dermatologist).

Keywords:
gastrointestinal bleeding – haemorrhoids – colonoscopy