{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T22:13:36Z","timestamp":1792102416190,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781136000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Surg."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Masses prolapsing through the anus represent a frequent diagnostic challenge in coloproctological practice. Misidentification may delay the management of malignant disease or surgical emergencies. This narrative review integrates current evidence on seven benign entities that may prolapse through the anus\u2014complete rectal prolapse, mucosal rectal prolapse, internal hemorrhoids, thrombosed hemorrhoids, anal condylomas, hypertrophied anal papilla, and anal canal polyps\u2014and proposes a clinical decision algorithm based on findings from physical examination. Particular emphasis is placed on the identification of red flags that require exclusion of malignancy or surgical emergency. The evidence supporting the different therapeutic options is critically analyzed. The proposed algorithm prioritizes objective clinical characteristics\u2014fold pattern, texture, mobility, and anatomical location\u2014to guide differential diagnosis and the sequence of complementary studies, optimizing surgical decision-making.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fsurg.2026.1825956","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T05:46:57Z","timestamp":1781156817000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Benign lesions prolapsing through the anus: a differential diagnostic algorithm and evidence-based surgical management\u2014a narrative review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Jose Antonio","family":"Vergara Torrente","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jos\u00e9 Eleuterio Gonz\u00e1lez, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Monterrey","place":["Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Mexico"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luis Alfonso","family":"Huerta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jos\u00e9 Eleuterio Gonz\u00e1lez, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Monterrey","place":["Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Mexico"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carlos Federico","family":"Sanchez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jos\u00e9 Eleuterio Gonz\u00e1lez, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Monterrey","place":["Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Mexico"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pamela","family":"Valdez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jos\u00e9 Eleuterio Gonz\u00e1lez, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Monterrey","place":["Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Mexico"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alondra","family":"Esparza Gonz\u00e1lez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jos\u00e9 Eleuterio Gonz\u00e1lez, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Monterrey","place":["Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Mexico"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gerardo","family":"Mu\u00f1oz Maldonado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jos\u00e9 Eleuterio Gonz\u00e1lez, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Monterrey","place":["Nuevo Le\u00f3n, Mexico"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"944","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMcp1204188","article-title":"Clinical practice. 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