Essential anorectal or idiopathic perianal pain

Abstract

Anorectal or perianal pelvic pain may be caused by any number of different underlying diseases. It is often the result of common and readily recognisable disorders such as inflammatory processes (perianal fistula and abscesses, cryptitis, anal fissures or Crohn's disease), haemorrhoids, anal fissures, tumours, prostatitis or gynaecological or other anomalies. In certain circumstances, however, the origin is uncertain or the pathophysiological mechanism is unclear. This is what is known as idiopathic pain or functional pain syndrome. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.