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Symptoms » Anal lump » Diagnosis Checklist
 
Dr. Huntley's

DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Anal lump

Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Anal lump. These may include a physical examination or other medical tests. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.

Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  1. How long have you noticed the lump

    Why: determine if acute or chronic.

  2. Was there an event that caused the lump to appear initially?

    Why: perianal haematoma may appear following straining at toilet or some other effort involving strain.

  3. Is the lump there all the time or does it come and go?

    Why: A lump that comes and goes indicates a prolapse of a lesion from the rectum e.g. rectal prolapse, rectal polyp or internal hemorrhoids.

  4. If the lump appears intermittently, what causes it to appear?

    Why: e.g. during bowel evacuation.

  5. Medical history of Inflammatory bowel disease?

    Why: may indicate increased risk of perianal abscess.

  6. Medical history of Diabetes?

    Why: may indicate increased risk of perianal abscess.

  7. History of Sexually transmitted infections?

    Why: may indicate increased chance of perianal warts.

  8. Is there a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps?

    Why: may indicate increased risk of rectal cancer, perianal abscess.

Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. These may include:

  1. Is there pain associated with the lump?

    Why: may indicate perianal haematoma, strangulated internal hemorrhoids, perianal abscess.

  2. Constipation?

    Why: predisposes to hemorrhoids, perianal haematoma, rectal prolapse.

  3. Rectal bleeding or blood on the toilet paper?

    Why: may indicate perianal haematoma, hemorrhoids, rectal or anal cancer, rectal polyp.

  4. Passage of mucous?

    Why: may occur with benign or malignant rectal tumors.

  5. Fever?

    Why: may indicate perianal abscess.

  6. Perianal itch?

    Why: may indicate hemorrhoids or genital warts.

  7. Weight loss?

    Why: may indicate malignancy.

  8. Prostate symptoms?

    Why: May indicate prostate condition, but usually causes a feeling of rectal fullness rather than actual lump.


 » Next page: Types of Anal lump

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