Benign anal conditions: haemorrhoids, fissures, perianal abscess, fistula-in-ano and pilonidal sinus

Benign perianal diseases encompass a diverse spectrum of common pathologies, which can incur significant morbidity. The incidence of these conditions is common and can present with advanced disease and the extent of the pathology may not accurately reflect the symptomatology. Differentiation of these benign conditions from cancers identifies those amenable to conservative, lifestyle, office-based or surgical therapies. The article summarizes accepted evidence-based modern recommendations and rationale for the management of haemorrhoids, fissures, perianal abscess (not ischiorectal), fistulae-in-ano and pilonidal sinus.