Snapshot quiz 11/3

Published: 05/25/2012

Authors: Teo I, Wild JRL and Goodfellow PB

The lesion is a fibroepithelial polyp of the anus. Fibroepithelial polyps, also known as hypertrophied anal papillae, are benign acquired lesions of the anal canal. They are essentially skin tags caused by a hyperplastic response to chronic irritation, infection, or trauma of connective tissue in the locality of the anal columns of Morgagni, just distal to the dentate line. Fibroepithelial polyps of the anus rarely exceed 3 cm. In such cases, excision is necessary to exclude malignancy.