Disease We Treat

ABSCESSES & FISTULAS

A peri-rectal abscess is a bacterial infection arising in an anal gland. They typically produce symptoms of progressively worsening pain, swelling and sometimes drainage in the anal area. Once the infection drains either spontaneously or surgically, a persistent opening from the external drainage site to the internal gland is called an anal fistula. Abscesses are best treated with surgical drainage, as antibiotic therapy alone is not effective. If an anal fistula develops, there are a number of options for treatment.

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COLITIS

Ulcerative colitis is a disorder of the large intestine resulting in inflammation, ulceration, and bleeding. Symptoms can include diarrhea, increased stool frequency and urgency, abdominal and pelvic pain/cramping, and weight loss. It most commonly occurs in young adults or later in life and tends to be hereditary. The exact cause is unknown. There is a broad spectrum of the disease, from mild to severe, and rapidly progressive forms. The initial treatment is medications to reduce the inflammation and symptoms. Although this is often successful, some patients have chronic or refractory disease and may need to be considered for surgical referral. Chronic colitis also increases the risk of colon cancer, and close surveillance of the colon is indicated.

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COLON CANCER

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for men and women combined. Although it can occur at almost any age, the incidence of colon cancer increases with age, and average risk people over 50 should be considered for screening. It is believed that 90% of colon cancers begin as benign polyps in the colon. Therefore, detection of polyps and their removal with screening colonoscopy is an effective way to prevent colon cancer.

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COLON POLYPS

Colon polyps are considered to be pre-cancerous growths inside the lining of the colon. Most polyps can be removed endoscopically at the time of a colonoscopy. However, some are located where endoscopic removal is not possible, or they may be too large for this procedure and will require surgical resection.

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DIVERTICULAR DISEASE

Diverticular disease is the general name for a common condition that involves small bulges or sacs called diverticula that form from the wall of the large intestine (colon). Although these sacs can form throughout the colon, they are most commonly found in the sigmoid colon, the portion of the large intestine closest to the rectum.
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FECAL INCONTINENCE

Fecal incontinence is the loss of voluntary control of stool, liquid, or gas or loss of the ability to defer defecation until a socially acceptable time. This can result in significant social embarrassment and limitations in lifestyle. Incontinence varies greatly in severity and frequency. Our multi-modality approach to the evaluation and treatment of fecal incontinence offers the best chance of success.

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ANAL FISSURES

Anal fissures is a superficial tears in the skin of the anal canal. They produce symptoms of severe pain and bleeding, which can commonly be mistaken for hemorrhoids. Once identified, they are treated primarily with local and dietary therapy. Compounded ointments may be used to heal fissures, surgical treatment is reserved for chronic or recurrent fissures. All of these treatment modalities are available at our office.

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HEMORRHOIDS

Hemorrhoids are cushions of vascular tissue located both externally under the perianal skin and internally under the lower rectal mucosa. Although they are normally present, when enlarged or irritated, hemorrhoids may become symptomatic with bleeding, pain, protrusion, or discharge.

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PILONIDAL DISEASE

Pilonidal disease is a common disease in younger men and women, occurring in the intergluteal cleft, just on top of the sacrum or upper part of the tailbone. It occurs due to an accumulation of hair in a skin­ lined cavity. It can become infected, leading to significant pain and drainage. Surgical excision can solve this problem.

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PRURITIS

Pruritis ani, or anal itching, is a common complaint seen in the office and is frequently misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids. The etiology is usually diet-related and can be resolved with counseling and moderate lifestyle changes.

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RECTAL PROLAPSE AND PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION

Rectal prolapse is a full-thickness protrusion of the rectum, which can be present only intermittently or continuously. This often results in discomfort, bleeding, difficulty with hygiene, or incontinence. Surgical repair is required to eliminate rectal prolapse.

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ANAL CANCER

A form of cancer where cells in the anal canal (just below the rectum) and on the skin surrounding the anus become abnormal and grow uncontrollably. This is usually in the form of squamous cell carcinoma and most of the time is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus.
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ANAL WARTS AND ANAL DYSPLASIA (ANAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA)

Anal warts are caused by HPV infection and are raised growths on the skin and inside of the anus. They can be small or large and cover significant areas of the skin and anal canal. They can be painless but can also cause itching, pain, bleeding, or discharge of mucus. Warts are the easiest way for HPV to transmit to another person but spread can still occur without visible warts. Warts can progress to precancer or anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), but AIN can occur from chronic infection without having active warts.
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CROHN'S DISEASE

Crohn’s disease is an incurable inflammatory disorder that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract is a system of body organs responsible for carrying and digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and getting rid of waste. Inflammation (red, swollen, and tender areas) always affects the innermost lining of the gastrointestinal tract, called the mucosa. However, the disease can affect the deeper layers of the gastrointestinal wall and even extend through the entire bowel wall.
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IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder, affecting an estimated 15% of the population. It is one of the several conditions known as functional gastrointestinal disorders. This means the bowel may function abnormally, but tests are normal and there are no detectable structural problems. The treatment for IBS is medical, and surgery is not indicated for this problem. This is a different problem from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
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PRURITIS ANI

Pruritis ani means “itchy anus” in Latin. This condition causes irritation of the skin near the anus, resulting in a strong urge to scratch the area. In many cases, no specific problem is found to explain the itching. These cases are called “idiopathic” (from unknown cause).
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ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease affecting the large bowel (colon and rectum). In UC, the inflammation is confined to the internal lining of the intestinal wall (mucosa). Medical management is typically the first option for treatment. UC can go into remission and recur (come and go). If surgery is needed for UC, it is usually curative.
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