Identification and reporting of anal pathology during routine colonoscopies

The gold-standard procedure for anal canal examination is anoscopy. Nonetheless, patients are referred for a colonoscopy for many reasons, and a routine exam might provide an opportunity to diagnose anal pathologies, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal polyps, condylomas, and anal squamous cell carcinoma. It is important to know the main features of these conditions and relevant information to report in order to help guide patient treatment and follow-up.

Effects of radical radiotherapy combined with different regimens of chemotherapy on radiation intestinal injury in patients with non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the effects of radical radiotherapy combined with different chemotherapy regimens (fluorouracil-based versus docetaxel plus cisplatin) on the incidence of radiation intestinal injury and the prognosis in patients with non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to recruit non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Nanfang Hospital from July 2013 to January 2021. Inclusion criteria: (1) newly diagnosed anal and perianal squamous cell carcinoma; (2) completed radical radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy; (3) tumor could be evaluated before radiotherapy. Exclusion criteria: (1) no imaging evaluation before treatment, or the tumor stage could not be determined; (2) patients undergoing local or radical resection before radiotherapy; (3) distant metastasis occurred before or during treatment; (4) recurrent anal squamous cell carcinoma. A total of 55 patients (48 from the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and 7 from Nanfang Hospital) were given fluorouracil (the 5-FU group, n=34) or docetaxel combined with the cisplatin (the TP group, n=21). The evaluation of radiation intestinal injury, hematological toxicity and 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate were compared between the two groups. The effects of chemotherapy regimen and other clinicopathological factors on the incidence and severity of acute and chronic radiation intestinal injury were analyzed. The assessment of radiation intestinal injury was based on the American Cancer Radiotherapy Cooperation Group (RTOG) criteria. Results: During radiotherapy and within 3 months after radiotherapy, a total of 45 patients developed acute radiation intestinal injury, including 18 cases of grade 1 (32.7%), 22 cases of grade 2 (40.0%) and 5 cases of grade 3 (9.1%). No patient developed chronic radiation intestinal injury. Among the 34 patients in the 5-FU group, 21 had grade 2-3 radiation intestinal injury (21/34, 61.8%), which was significantly higher than that in the TP group (6/21, 28.6%) (χ(2)=5.723, P=0.017). Multivariate analysis showed that 5-FU chemotherapy regimen was an independent risk factor for radiation intestinal injury (HR=4.038, 95% CI: 1.250-13.045, P=0.020). With a median follow-up period of 26 (5-94) months, the 3-year DFS rate of patients in TP group and 5-FU group was 66.8% and 77.9%, respectively, whose difference was not significant (P=0.478). Univariate analysis showed that the DFS rate was associated with sex, age, tumor location, T stage, N stage, and induction chemotherapy (all P<0.05), while the DFS rate was not associated with chemotherapy regimen or radiation intestinal injury (both P>0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that age ≥ 50 years old was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of patients (HR=8.301, 95% CI: 1.130-60.996, P=0.038). Conclusions: For patients with non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma, radical radiotherapy combined with TP chemotherapy regimen can significantly reduce the incidence of radiation intestinal injury as compared to 5-FU regimen. However, due to the short follow-up time, the effect of different chemotherapy regimens on the prognosis is not yet clear.

Estudio comparativo de los resultados del tratamiento del carcinoma anal escamoso en los pacientes HIV positivos y negativos / Comparative study of the results of the treatment of squamous anal carcinoma in HIV positive and negative patients

Introducción: El tratamiento del carcinoma anal escamoso (CAE) en los pacientes HIV positivos resulta controvertido. Si bien las guías actuales recomiendan realizar en los pacientes con buen estado inmunológico la quimiorradioterapia (QRT) concurrente estándar, algunos autores consideran que estos pacientes presentan mayor toxicidad y peores resultados a largo plazo, por lo que requerirían un abordaje diferente. El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar los resultados del tratamiento del CAE en los pacientes VIH positivos y negativos. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo comparativo. Pacientes y métodos: Se revisaron retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de los pacientes tratados en el Sector Coloproctología, Hospital Fernández, entre 01/2007 y 10/2018. Los del conducto anal se dividieron en: Grupo I: VIH negativos y Grupo II: VIH positivos. Se compararon variables demográficas, factores de riesgo específicos, estadificación, QRT (drogas, toxicidad y respuesta), tratamiento quirúrgico curativo/paliativo, persistencia/recurrencia y supervivencia específica y global. Resultados: Se incluyeron 28 pacientes (18 mujeres); margen: 2, conducto: 26 (Grupo I: 15. Grupo II: 11). Los VIH positivos eran en su mayoría hombres que tienen sexo con hombres vs. 100% de mujeres VIH negativas (p<0,01), más jóvenes (45,2±0,9 vs. 63,6±8; p<0,01) y tabaquistas (82% vs. 27%; p=0,005). No hubo diferencia significativa en la estadificación, aunque el Grupo II tuvo tumores con complicaciones más severas. Pudieron completar el tratamiento: Grupo I: 93%, Grupo II: 64% (p<0,05). Tuvieron respuesta completa a la QRT 13/14 (93%) pacientes del Grupo I y 3/7 (43%) del Grupo II (p<0,01). Hubo 3 recurrencias, 2 locorregionales y 1 a distancia (p=NS). Los VIH positivos requirieron más cirugías (82% vs. 27%; p<0,01). A 5 pacientes (4 del Grupo II) se les realizó una resección abdominoperineal (RAP). Tuvieron colostomía definitiva, con o sin RAP, el 46% de los pacientes, la mayoría VIH positivos (82% vs. 27%; p=0,002). En los VIH positivos el RR de mortalidad por cáncer fue 4 (IC95%: 1,01-16,5; p=0,02) y el RR de mortalidad global fue 5,45 (IC95%: 1,42-20,8; p=0,002). Tuvieron menor supervivencia, tanto global (p=0,001) como libre de enfermedad (p=0,01). Mediana de seguimiento: 27 meses (4-216).Conclusiones: Los pacientes VIH positivos con CAE se diferenciaron de los VIH negativos en una menor tasa de respuesta completa a la QRT y una mayor necesidad de tratamiento quirúrgico. Además, tuvieron una supervivencia global y libre de enfermedad significativamente menor que los VIH negativos. (AU)

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in HIV-positive patients is controversial. Although current guidelines recommend performing standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with good immune status, some authors believe that these patients have greater toxicity and worse long-term results, so they would require a different approach. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of SCC treatment in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.DESIGN: Comparative retrospective study.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of patients treated in the Coloproctology Section, Hospital Fernández, between 01/2007 and 10/2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Those of the anal canal were divided into: Group I: HIV-negative and Group II: HIV-positive. Demographic variables, specific risk factors, staging, CRT (drugs, toxicity, and response), curative/palliative surgical treatment, persistence/recurrence, and cancer-specific and global survival were compared.RESULTS: 28 patients (18 women), margin: 2, conduit: 26 (Group I: 15. Group II: 11). The HIV-positive were mostly men who have sex with men (vs. 100% HIV-negative women; p<0.01), younger (45.2 ± 0.9 vs. 63.6 ± 8; p<0.01) and smokers (82% vs. 27%; p=0.005). There was no significant difference in staging, although Group II had tumors with more severe complications. Completed the treatment: Group I: 93%, Group II: 64% of patients (p<0,05). Thirteen out of 14 (93%) patients in Group I, and 3/7 (43%) patients in Group II had a complete response to CRT (p<0.01). There were 3 recurrences, 2 loco-regional and 1 distance (p=NS). HIV-positive required more surgery (82% vs. 27%; p<0.01). 5 patients (4 of Group II) underwent an abdominal-perineal resection (APR). Forty six percent of patients had permanent colostomy, with or without APR, most of them were HIV-positive (82% vs. 27%; p=0.002). In HIV-positive patients, the RR of cancer mortality was 4 (95% CI: 1.01-16.5; p=0.02) and the RR of overall mortality was 5.45 (95% CI: 1.42-20, 8; p=0.002). They also had lower overall (p=0.001) and disease-free survival (p=0.01). Median follow-up: 27 months (4 - 216).CONCLUSION: HIV-positive patients with anal SCC were different from HIV-negative patients in that they had a lower complete response rate to CRT, and a greater need for surgical treatment. They had a significantly lower overall and disease-free survival than HIV-negative patients. (AU)

Efficacy of volumetric intensity modulated arc therapy (VMAT) combined with chemotherapy in anal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) in the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy.Methods A total of 19 patients with ASCC who underwent definitive radiotherapy in our hospital since 2011 were collected.The survival curves were depicted with K-M method.Risk factors of disease progression were analyzed using case-control study.Results The median follow-up time was 31 months.The 3 year-LFS and 3 year-OS were 88.1％ and 91.7％,respectively.Grade 3 acute toxicities during the chemoradiotherapy were mainly white blood cell reduction (15.8％),platelet reduction (10.5％),diarrhea (15.8％),and skin reaction (31.6％).Compared with historical data,volumetric intensity modulated arc therapy was superior to conventional radiotherapy in the treatment outcome and normal tissue protection in ASCC.Univariate analysis showed that concurrent chemotherapy with capecitabine was a favorable factor in disease progression (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Volumetric intensity modulated arc therapy for ASCC may have advantages in terms of efficacy and normal tissue protection.Concurrent chemotherapy with a double-drug regimen containing capecitabine may be a beneficial factor in disease progression.

Chemotherapeutic Response and Survival for Patients With an Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Low Hemoglobin Levels

PURPOSE: Anemia is associated with poor treatment results for a variety of cancers. The effect of low hemoglobin levels on long-term outcomes after the treatment of patients with an anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear. For that reason, this study aimed to investigate the effect of anemia on treatment outcomes following chemoradiation for an anal SCC. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent curative treatment for an anal SCC between 2009 and 2015 at 2 trusts in the United Kingdom. Data were collated from prospectively collected cancer databases and were cross-checked with operating-room records and records in the hospitals’ patient management systems. RESULTS: We identified 103 patients with a median age of 63 years (range, 36–84 years). The median overall survival was 39 months (range, 9–90 months), and the disease-free survival was 36 months (range, 2–90 months). During the follow-up period, 16.5% patients died and 13.6% patients developed recurrence. Twenty-two people were anemic prior to treatment, with a female preponderance (20 of 22). No differences in disease-free survival (P = 0.74) and overall survival (P = 0.12) were noted between patients with anemia and those with normal hemoglobin levels. On regression the analysis, the combination of anemia, the presence of a defunctioning colostomy, lymph-node involvement and higher tumor stage correlated with poor overall survival. CONCLUSION: In this study, anemia did not influence disease-free survival or overall survival. We suggest that the interaction between anemia and survival is more complex than previously demonstrated and potentially reliant on other coexisting factors.

Double Primary Cancer Patient with Sigmoid Colon Adenocarcinoma and Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Rectal Mucosal Metastasis A case report

Synchronous neoplams are uncommon condition but the incidence is now being increased. The situation is rare when these tumors comes from different origin. We experienced the case with synchronous sigmoid colon cancer and anal squamous cell carcinoma with rectal mucosal metastasis. The patient was 61 years old male. He complained of intermittent hematochezia since 3~4 months ago. The patient underwent anterior resection for colon cancer and wide excision for anal squamous cell carcinoma. After surgical operation, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (5-FU + Leucovorin) and radiotherapy were done. In this case, we could preserve the anal sphincter using combined therapy. We think that this type of management may be useful treatment in patients with colon cancer and anal squamous cell cancer simultaneously.