To detect (find) and diagnose anal cancer tests are used to examine the rectum and anus.
You can use the following tests and procedures:
- Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general health status, including signs of illness such as lumps or anything else that does not seem normal. Also reported a history of the patient’s health habits and their past illnesses and treatments.
- Digital rectal exam (DRE): examination of the anus and rectum. The doctor or nurse inserts a gloved finger lubricated in the lower rectum to feel for lumps or anything else that seems unusual.
- Anoscopy: examination of the anus and lower rectum using a short, lighted tube called anoscope.
- Proctoscopy: review of the rectum using a short, lighted tube called proctoscope.
- Anal or endorectal ultrasound: A procedure which introduces a transducer (probe) ultrasound in the anus or rectum and used to bounce high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) off internal organs and tissues to make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.
- Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissue for a pathologist to observe under a microscope to check for signs of cancer. If you notice an abnormal area during the anoscopy, you can perform a biopsy at that time.
