A 31-year-old pharmacist complaining of rectal pain. He describes the pain as "a severe tightness that awakens him from sleep." His bowel activity is normal. He denies rectal bleeding and seepage. He adds that sleep interruption is problematic because, with the number of hours he works, every minute of sleep is important. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- anal abscess
- perianal fistula
- proctalgia fugax
- ulcerative colitis
- internal hemorrhoids
Answer: C
Proctalgia fugax
Proctalgia (rectal pain) fugax (comes and goes) is the best description. An abscess would be constant, fistula would drain, UC would cause bloody mucousy diarrhea, hemorrhoids would cause no pain, but bleeding.
Know Your Content Blueprint
Disorders of the Anus and Rectum are covered as part of the PANCE GI and Nutrition Blueprint
Review Topic: Disorders of the Anus and Rectum (PEARLS)