Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of anal canal is
**Core Concept**
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anal canal is a type of cancer that originates from the squamous epithelial cells lining the anal canal. The treatment of choice for SCC of the anal canal is a multidisciplinary approach that involves a combination of chemoradiation and surgery.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The standard treatment for SCC of the anal canal is chemoradiation, which involves the administration of chemotherapy and radiation therapy concurrently. This approach is based on the principle of using chemotherapy to increase the radiosensitivity of cancer cells, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of radiation therapy. The chemoradiation regimen typically consists of a combination of fluoropyrimidines (such as 5-fluorouracil) and mitomycin-C, which are administered concurrently with radiation therapy. This approach has been shown to improve local control and survival rates in patients with SCC of the anal canal.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because surgery alone is not the standard treatment for SCC of the anal canal, although it may be used in certain cases, such as recurrent or metastatic disease.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because chemotherapy alone is not sufficient to treat SCC of the anal canal, as it may not provide adequate local control.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because radiation therapy alone is not the standard treatment for SCC of the anal canal, although it may be used in combination with chemotherapy.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The Nigro protocol, which involves chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C, is the standard treatment for SCC of the anal canal and has been shown to improve local control and survival rates in patients with this disease.
**Correct Answer:** C. Chemoradiation.