Can anal fistulas be left untreated?
If an explicit diagnosis of anal fistula is made, it cannot go untreated. If the anal fistula is localized around the anus but not actively treated and surgically removed, it is very likely to cause branching of the fistula tract or spread to the ischioanal fossa, as well as thickening of the fistula wall. This can exacerbate the symptoms of local infection, causing an increase in stabbing pain or purulent secretions. Prolonged, recurrent episodes of anal fistula may also lead to carcinogenic changes in the fistula wall due to inflammatory stimuli. Therefore, once an anal fistula is diagnosed, it is necessary to promptly undergo surgical treatment with fistulotomy and seton placement to prevent the condition from worsening and complicating later treatments.
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