Introductory Chapter: A Surgical Point of View on Proctology

Proctology is the specialized branch of general surgery that studies anorectal diseases. Anorectal disorders are common conditions. Their prevalence in the general population is probably much higher than that seen in clinical practice as most patients do not seek medical attention. There is no prevalence of sex, men and women of any age can be affected. The spectrum of anorectal disorders ranges from benign to potentially life-threatening (anorectal cancer). Gupta [1] divided the anorectal lesions into common, less common, and uncommon (Table 1). The symptoms are often not specific and difficult to evaluate; cultural and social constraints make it difficult for some patients to talk about problems in anal disorders, and doctors do not always ask patients about potential symptoms, which can delay diagnosis. In a study conducted in France, Abramovitz et al. [2] contacted 39 doctors who have joined