Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 7/17/2007

Question
Hello, Dr. Nordquist.
I’m 36 male, a heterosexual. I have a question about hemorrhoids. I palpated a small hard-disdainful-border nodular in the border of anus and rectum, more into the rectum, right under mucosal lining. I understand that this is impossible to make a virtual diagnosis, but if you could give me a perspective, what it could be, and treatment. If this is something that has to be taken out, any invasive procedure in that area is a disaster to happen. I don’t understand how they revert excrement especially with PPH technique of circumferential excision of a bend of mucosa above the hemorrhoids.

Well, I don’t think it’s a hemorrhoid. Why? It’s hard, but painful when palpated, small 5-6 mm in diameter, no blooding, hard with disdainful border nodule. It’s more like a clot but not inflamed.

I once complained to my physician about spasms in the rectum area. He assured me it wasn’t a prostate but muscle spasms even though I experienced it outside of the process of elimination. It grew slowly to the point that I could not bear the pain, then it would subside slowly. I couldn’t tie it anything. Thought if this may be related.

Thank you,
Alec


Answer
Well it CAN still be a hemorrhoid even though as you yourself have stated it IS impossible to know what it is without an examination. It is the same with the question of what to do about it. Without knowing what it is that can not be answered. Besides your question is outside my area of expertise here which is cancer. Of course I can not guarantee from here that this is not cancer - I'm a dr. not a fortune teller - but from your descrption it seems unlikely. So this is more a surgical question and I'm not a surgeon but a medical oncologist & a radiation therapist. So I strongly suggest that you direct this question to an expert of surgery here or even better let a surgeon check you! Then you will KNOW what it is and what to do about it! Right? Good luck!