Diagnosis and treatment for anal squamous cancer—interpretation of guideline from American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons        DU Chang-zheng, GU Jin. Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Colorectal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute，Beijing100142, China
Corresponding author:GU Jin，E-mail：zlguj@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract    Squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anus remains a relatively rare malignancy. Many doctors were inexperienced in treatment of anal cancer, and a lot of people even confuse anal cancer with low rectal cancer. In fact, anal cancer is significantly different with rectal cancer from oncological behavior to clinical treatment. A disease-specific history of anal cancer should be carefully performed, such as the infection history of HPV or HIV. Endoscopic and radiologic evaluations are significant for anal cancer. In the treatment, surgery is the cornerstone for rectal cancer, while it is just indicated for the radio-resistant or recurrent disease in anal cancer. Chemoradiotherapy is well demonstrated as the primary treatment of anal cancer. With the purpose of improving clinical decisions, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) published the Practice Parameters for Anal Squamous Neoplasms. This practice parameter will focus on the diagnosis, pretreatment evaluation and therapy of SCC in anus and anal margin.