Successful treatment of painful internal hemorrhoids using aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA) injection therapy in a terminal-stage patient

Abstract

A 75-year-old man with end-stage colon cancer began to experience increased pain and distress and significantly deteriorated quality of life (QOL) due to internal hemorrhoids. In order to maintain the patient's QOL, the hemorrhoids were successfully treated with aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA) injection, which involves minimal patient burden and pain. The outcome of this case suggests that ALTA might be useful and effective for the treatment of internal hemorrhoids in terminally ill cancer patients.