Case Report
Published: Jun 08, 2025 | DOI: 10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919
Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report
Authors: Mohamed Abdelreheem , MD Trong Anh Nguyen , MD Lars Leupolt , MD Eberhard Schneider
Article Info
Authors
Mohamed Abdelreheem
Department of Visceral and General Surgery, GPR Ruesselsheim, Ruesselsheim am Main, Germany
MD Trong Anh Nguyen
Department of Visceral and General Surgery, GPR Ruesselsheim, Ruesselsheim am Main, Germany
MD Lars Leupolt
Head of the department of Visceral and General Surgery, GPR Ruesselsheim, Ruesselsheim am Main, Germany
MD Eberhard Schneider
Research Department, GPR Ruesselsheim, Ruesselsheim am Main, Germany
Publication History
Received: March 18, 2025
Accepted: May 08, 2025
Published: June 08, 2025
Abstract
Background: Retro-rectal cystic hamartoma, also known as a tailgut cyst, is a rare type of space-occupying lesion. It is a cystic hamartoma that predominantly forms in the retrorectal region and may serve as a potential etiology for anal neoplasia.
Case Presentation: A 58-year-old female patient was initially treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, which was surgically removed on May 20, 2023, followed by radiotherapy. She also had a known tailgut cyst with a fistula connecting it to the perianal skin at the 6 o’clock position in the lithotomy view. The cyst had been asymptomatic until then. As a prophylactic measure to prevent potential malignant transformation, the decision was made to excise the tailgut cyst. The operation was performed laparoscopically and included perianal mobilization of the fistula. During follow-up, the patient developed perianal pain. A CT scan revealed a fluid collection at the site of the excised tailgut cyst. The collection was surgically drained and identified as a seroma without any signs of infection. The patient was discharged after seven days and experienced no further long-term complications.
Conclusion: Retro-rectal cystic hamartomas are rare and often asymptomatic. When symptomatic, they may present with lower abdominal pain, back pain, obstipation, urinary retention, or complications such as anal abscesses and fistulas. Research to date remains inconclusive regarding the incidence of malignant transformation.
Keywords: Tailgut cyst, Retro-rectal cystic hamartoma, Anal neoplasia, Cystic hamartoma, Hindgut remnant, Case report.
Pubmed Style
Mohamed Abdelreheem, MD Trong Anh Nguyen, MD Lars Leupolt, MD Eberhard Schneider. Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report. EJMCR. 2025; 08 (June 2025): -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919
Web Style
Mohamed Abdelreheem, MD Trong Anh Nguyen, MD Lars Leupolt, MD Eberhard Schneider. Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report. https://ejmcr.com/articles/1919 [Access: June 08, 2025]. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919
AMA (American Medical Association) Style
Mohamed Abdelreheem, MD Trong Anh Nguyen, MD Lars Leupolt, MD Eberhard Schneider. Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report. EJMCR. 2025; 08 (June 2025): -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919
Vancouver/ICMJE Style
Mohamed Abdelreheem, MD Trong Anh Nguyen, MD Lars Leupolt, MD Eberhard Schneider. Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report. EJMCR. (2025), [cited June 08, 2025]; 08 (June 2025): -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919
Harvard Style
Mohamed Abdelreheem, MD Trong Anh Nguyen, MD Lars Leupolt, MD Eberhard Schneider (2025) Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report. EJMCR, 08 (June 2025): -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919
Chicago Style
Mohamed Abdelreheem, MD Trong Anh Nguyen, MD Lars Leupolt, MD Eberhard Schneider. "Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report." 08 (2025), -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919
MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style
Mohamed Abdelreheem, MD Trong Anh Nguyen, MD Lars Leupolt, MD Eberhard Schneider. "Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report." 08.June 2025 (2025), -. Print. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
Mohamed Abdelreheem, MD Trong Anh Nguyen, MD Lars Leupolt, MD Eberhard Schneider (2025) Retro-Rectal Cystic Hamartoma: A Rare Etiology for an Anal Neoplasia – A Case Report. , 08 (June 2025), -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-1919