[Anorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma: observations on a case and review of the literature].

Carcinoid tumours of the anorectum are rare (0.7% of malignant rectal tumours). Because of this rarity several aspects of the management of these tumours remain controversial. Diagnosis may be delayed because of failure to recognize their morphological characteristics and histological appearance may not reflect their biological behaviour. Immunocytochemistry for neuroendocrine-cells are essential to identify different types of carcinoid tumours and to do differential diagnosis from other malignant tumours. All that allow an exact therapeutic approach to these tumours. The tumours less than cm 1 in diameter can be safely treated by local excision; the tumours more than cm 1 in diameter are treated by radical surgery (AAP).