Human Papillomavirus Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Rectum

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is most commonly seen in the esophagus and anal canal in the gastrointestinal tract. The incidence of SCC of the rectum is infrequent with no clear etiology. There have been limited reported cases of SCC of the rectum caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Due to the rarity of carcinoma, the management of SCC of the rectum is not standardized. We report a case of a 51-year-old female with an insignificant medical history presenting with hematochezia and weight loss and was found to have HPV-positive SCC of the rectum. This case report emphasizes the importance of work-up, usefulness of HPV testing for high-risk patients, and clinical management of SCC of the rectum.