The relationship between carcinoma of the rectum and hemorrhoids.

The suspected positive correlation between rectal carcinoma and hemorrhoids was examined in a retrospective study. In patients older than 50 a significant positive correlation could be demonstrated between rectal carcinoma and hemorrhoids. In the group of hemorrhoid patients described it could not be shown that rectal carcinoma was more frequent than in the normal population. In patients older than 40 with hemorrhoids a rectoscopy is always recommended. In this material the colonic enema did not contribute any diagnostic information from which therapeutic consequences could be inferred.