Assessment
Questionnaire
Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Anal swelling. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.
Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:
Privacy Statement
No private information is transferred over the internet. Do not use the "Browser back button", as this may cause data loss.
Why: determine if acute or chronic.
Why: perianal haematoma may appear following straining at toilet or some other effort involving strain.
Why: A lump that comes and goes indicates a prolapse of a lesion from the rectum e.g. rectal prolapse, rectal polyp or internal hemorrhoids.
Why: e.g. during bowel evacuation.
Why: may indicate increased risk of perianal abscess.
Why: may indicate increased risk of perianal abscess.
Why: may indicate increased chance of perianal warts.
Why: may indicate increased risk of rectal cancer, perianal abscess.
Why: Some causes of anal swelling such as some cancers/tumors tend to grow gradually and be present for some time. Similarly, Hemorrhoids tend to be a have a chronic time course. However some causes of anal swelling can be very acute, such as perianal abscess or anal trauma.
Why: Some anal swellings such a perianal hematoma/thrombosed external hemorrhoid or rectal prolapse can be preceded by straining.
Why: Some types of hemorrhoids (particularly ones that cannot be replaced in the rectum - strangulated hemorrhoids) and inflammatory conditions (such as a perianal abscess) tend to be quite painful. So much so that they may limit your ability to sit or lie down.
Why: These can be symptoms of hemorrhoids, which are an important cause of anal swellings.
Why: Some swellings such as perianal abscess tend to be diffuse, whereas hemorrhoids may be felt more as small anal protrusions which can be easily replaced. Hemorrhoids however can feel quite large and may not feel like an anal protrusion.
Why: Knowing where you have felt the swelling coming from is important. Conditions that cause a swelling to arise from the skin around the anus (skin tag) can be very different from those that cause swellings from within the anus (hemorrhoid, anal cancer, rectal prolapse).
Why: Some anal swellings can either fluctuate in size when you press on them (perianal abscess), or they may disappear (rectal prolapse, hemorrhoid). Of those that appear to disappear with pressure, some may recur as soon as the pressure is removed and some may recur at a later time. It is important for you to communicate all of these facts to your Health Professional to aid them in providing an accurate diagnosis and management plan.
Why: may indicate perianal haematoma, strangulated internal hemorrhoids, perianal abscess.
Why: predisposes to hemorrhoids, perianal haematoma, rectal prolapse.
Why: may indicate perianal haematoma, hemorrhoids, rectal or anal cancer, rectal polyp.
Why: may occur with benign or malignant rectal tumors.
Why: may indicate perianal abscess.
Why: may indicate hemorrhoids or genital warts.
Why: may indicate malignancy.
The following list of conditions have 'Anal swelling' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Anal swelling or choose View All.
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 7 May, 2013 (3:31)
