Sexually Transmitted Diseases of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus

In this issue we update the reader on the current diagnosis and treatment of the sexually transmitted diseases the colorectal surgeon may see in practice. Sexually transmitted diseases are being encountered more frequently in the anorectum as the practice of anoreceptive intercourse is becoming increasingly common among heterosexuals and continues to be a prominent part of many homosexual relationships.

As more and more physicians are seeing patients who are men who have sex with men (MSM), it is important to review the particular needs and concerns of this patient population. Dr. Stephen E. Goldstone, a Mt. Sinai general surgeon, with a large office-based practice heavily biased toward MSM, and I have tried to provide the reader with a primer.

Dr. Charles B. Whitlow, the Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency Program Director at the Ochsner Clinic, has provided an excellent overview of the bacterial sexually transmitted diseases that should be considered when evaluating patients with anorectal lesions.

Dr. Laura Y. McGirt, from the Department of Immunology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Dr. Ciro R. Martins, Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, review for us the common perianal dermatologic infections that may be confused with anorectal sexually transmitted diseases and common benign anorectal conditions.

Andrew A. Shelton, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery and Assistant Program Director for the Division of General Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, has created an authoritative review of sexually transmitted parasitic infections encountered in the anorectum.

David A. Margolin, M.D., Director of Colon and Rectal Research at the Ochsner Clinic, updates the reader on HIV in the colorectal surgeon’s practice.

Dr. George Chang, Assistant Professor of Surgery at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and I have summarized the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of anal condylomatous disease and the associated complications such as anal dysplasia.

It has been an honor and pleasure to be associated with this project. I am indebted to Dr. Beck for the opportunity and my contributors for their time commitments despite their busy schedules.