Impact of screening programme to prevent anal cancer in high-risk patients with HIV.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the impact of a nationwide screening programme to reduce the risk of anal cancer in a large cohort of high-risk patients with HIV. METHODS: From a large database from one referral centre, all high-risk patients with HIV (men who have sex with men, history of anal or genital warts, or previous cervix human papillomavirus-related lesions) who were eligible to enter the French anal cancer screening programme (2011-2020) were retrospectively included. Adherence to the screening programme was defined as no interval >18 months between two visits. Standardized management included perianal visualization and standard anoscopy with biopsies of macroscopic abnormalities. RESULTS: Overall, 700 patients with HIV were included (median follow-up 8.4 years [interquartile range 4.3-9.2] and 1491.6 patient-years), and 336 had one or more proctology visit. A total of 13 patients were diagnosed with anal squamous cell carcinomas. The risk of anal cancer was higher with anal intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 3 (AIN3; hazard ratio [HR] 44.5 [95% confidence interval {CI} 11.2-176.6], p < 0.001), AIN2 (HR 11.9 [95% CI 2.1-66.9], p = 0.005), or high-grade dysplasia (HR 23.4 [95% CI 7.9-69.1], p < 0.001) than with low-grade dysplasia or no lesion. Among the patients who were strictly adherent to the screening programme (4.6% [32/700]), we did not report any AIN or anal cancer, but we also did not observe any significant reduction in the risk of anal cancer (p = 0.51), AIN3 (p = 0.28), high-grade dysplasia (p = 0.19), or any AIN lesions (p = 0.10) compared with non-adherent patients. In contrast, screened patients were more likely to be diagnosed with anal warts (HR 3.71 [95% CI 2.14-6.42], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Macroscopic high-grade dysplasia lesions are associated with a higher risk of developing anal cancer. Despite finding no cases of cancer during the screening programme, we also did not demonstrate a clear benefit from our screening programme for the prevention of anal cancer in high-risk patients with HIV.

Management of early anal cancer: need for guidelines and standardisation.

PURPOSE: The optimal management of early squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (AC) is yet to be determined. This study investigated current practice in the management of early AC. METHODS: A patterns of care survey was completed by Australian surgeons and radiation oncologists. Specific topics addressed were as follows: geographical location of practice, staging of disease, treatment approaches to T1N0 tumours and grade 3 anal intra-epithelial neoplasia (AIN3) lesions, radiotherapy planning, toxicities, follow-up and clinical trial involvement. RESULTS: Sixty-four responses were obtained. For the management of T1N0 disease, half the respondents recommended standard dose chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) and one third recommended wide local excision (WLE). For the management of AIN3, half recommended WLE while a quarter advocated observation. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a significant variation in the management of early AC. The development of guidelines specific to the treatment of early AC could standardise treatment while further research is required to define the optimal management of T1N0 AC and AIN.

Papulose bowenóide: um aspecto clínico da infecção pelo HPV / Bowenoid papulosis: a clinical feature of the HPV infection

Papulose bowenóide é uma doença que acomete a pele da região anogenital e que se caracteriza pelas múltiplas pequenas pápulas planas ou aveludadas e de coloração que varia do róseo ao castanho-escuro. É provocada pelo HPV e a transmissão sexual é a forma mais freqüente de contaminação. As queixas mais comuns são prurido e dor. O aspecto é característico e o exame histopatológico confirma o diagnóstico. Junto com a doença de Bowen e a eritroplasia de Queyrat, é considerada como carcinoma in situ, ou neoplasia intra-epitelial de alto grau (NIAA), a lesão precursora do carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) anal. Sem tratamento, a maioria das lesões permanece benigna e estável. Várias modalidades terapêuticas estão disponíveis, incluindo as medicações tópicas para citodestruição e as técnicas ablativas. Os esquemas tópicos são efetivos. Cabe ao profissional médico escolher a terapia adequada, tendo em mente que a doença é benigna e raramente evolui para carcinoma. Como as recidivas são freqüentes e ainda persistem dúvidas quanto ao potencial de malignização, os doentes devem ser examinados periodicamente para diagnosticar as lesões iniciais.

Bowenoid papulosis is an anogenital skin disease characterized by multiple little papules, flat or velvet, which color varies from pink to dark brown. It is provoked by HPV and its transmission is sexual. Most common symptoms are anal pain and itching. Its appearance is characteristic and hystopathological examination confirms diagnosis. Together with Bowenïs disease and Queyrat erythroplasia, is considered as an in situ carcinoma, or high grade intra-epithelial neoplasia (HAIN), a precursor of the squamous-cell carcinoma. Most of lesions remain benign and stable without treatment. There are several kinds of treatment including topical drugs for cytodestruction and ablative techniques. Topic schemes are effectives. The consultant doctor may choose the most adequate therapy, keeping in mind this disease is benign and rarely evolutes to invasive carcinoma. As recurrences are frequent and remain doubts about malign potential, patients must be examined periodically to diagnose initial lesions.