Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anus, previously called cloacogenic carcinoma, is a subtype of SCC. There are very few data on the morphologic variation within basaloid SCC of the anus, ...which may contribute to misdiagnosis. We retrospectively evaluated cases originally diagnosed as basaloid SCC for histologic characterization. We retrieved and reviewed cases of basaloid SCC from 1994 to 2013. Ten (27%) cases were reclassified after review, including basal cell carcinoma (n=6), melanoma (n=2), and neuroendocrine carcinoma (n=2). The final group of basaloid SCC (n=27) showed a female predominance (median age=60 y; range, 42 to 92 y). Morphologically, basaloid SCC could be categorized into 4 groupstransitional carcinoma like (n=10), basaloid with peripheral palisade (n=13), adenoid cystic carcinoma like (n=3), and mucinous microcystic (n=1). In 19 cases the histologic patterns were pure and were mixed in the remainder. CK5/6, p16, and high-risk HPV were positive in all cases (n=27). SOX2 was positive in 18/22 cases. Clinical follow-up was available on 60% of cases; 9 patients (53%) developed local recurrence or metastasis, and 5 (29%) died of disease. Basaloid SCC of the anus is characterized by 4 major histologic patterns and is consistently HPV driven.
Highlights ► Development of CIN3 is rare in women aged 30 years who test HPV DNA-negative. ► Heterosexual transmission is extremely common. ► Transmission between the anus and cervix and vice versa ...are common in a woman. ► Prevalence of penile HPV is greater than cervical HPV but persistence is less likely. ► Persons with HIV, MSM, and women with cervical cancer are at risk for anal cancer.
The number of infectious disease outbreaks and the number of unique pathogens responsible have significantly increased since the 1980s. HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) are a vulnerable ...population with regards to the introduction, spread and clinical consequences of (newly introduced) STIs. After the introduction of combination antiretroviral treatment (cART), the incidence of sexually acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced anal cancers have significantly increased among HIV-positive MSM. The introduction and expansion of HCV is the result of increased sexual risk behaviour and sexually acquired mucosal trauma within large interconnected networks of HIV-positive MSM in particular. With the availability of cART, postexposure and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP and PrEP) and direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for HCV, less concern for HIV and HCV might require a new approach to develop effective behavioural intervention strategies among MSM. The marked rise in HPV-induced anal cancers can be ascribed to the long-term immunologic defects in an ageing population affected by HIV. More evidence with regards to effective treatment options for anal dysplastic lesions and the usefulness of anal malignancy screening programmes is urgently needed. Most anal cancers in the future generation of HIV-positive MSM could be prevented with the inclusion of boys in addition to girls in current HPV vaccination programmes.
Abstract Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is a rare cancer but its incidence is increasing throughout the world, and is particularly high in the human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) ...population. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory (involving radiation therapists, medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists and pathologists). SCCA usually spreads in a loco-regional manner within and outside the anal canal. Lymph node involvement at diagnosis is observed in 30–40% of cases while systemic spread is uncommon with distant extrapelvic metastases recorded in 5–8% at onset, and rates of metastatic progression after primary treatment between 10% and 20%. SCCA is strongly associated with human papilloma virus (HPV, types 16–18) infection. The primary aim of treatment is to achieve cure with loco-regional control and preservation of anal function, with the best possible quality of life. Treatment dramatically differs from adenocarcinomas of the lower rectum. Combinations of 5FU-based chemoradiation and other cytotoxic agents (mitomycin C) have been established as the standard of care, leading to complete tumour regression in 80–90% of patients with locoregional failures in the region of 15%. There is an accepted role for surgical salvage. Assessment and treatment should be carried out in specialised centres treating a high number of patients as early as possible in the clinical diagnosis. To date, the limited evidence from only 6 randomised trials 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 , the rarity of the cancer, and the different behaviour/natural history depending on the predominant site of origin, (the anal margin, anal canal or above the dentate line) provide scanty direction for any individual oncologist. Here we aim to provide guidelines which can assist medical, radiation and surgical oncologists in the practical management of this unusual cancer.
Objectives
A published tumour regression grade (TRG) score for squamous anal carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy based on T2-weighted MRI yields a high proportion of indeterminate ...responses (TRG-3). We investigate whether the addition of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) improves tumour response assessment in the early post treatment period.
Materials and methods
This retrospective observational study included squamous anal carcinoma patients undergoing MRI before and within 3 months of completing chemoradiotherapy from 2009 to 2020. Four independent radiologists (1–20 years’ experience) scored MRI studies using a 5-point TRG system (1 = complete response; 5 = no response) based on T2-weighted sequences alone, and then after a 12-week washout period, using a 5-point DWI-TRG system based on T2-weighted and DWI. Scoring confidence was recorded on a 5-point scale (1 = low; 5 = high) for each reading and compared using the Wilcoxon test. Indeterminate scores (TRG-3) from each reading session were compared using the McNemar test. Interobserver agreement was assessed using kappa statistics.
Results
Eighty-five patients were included (mean age, 59 years ± 12 SD; 55 women). T2-weighted TRG-3 scores from all readers combined halved from 24% (82/340) to 12% (41/340) with DWI (
p
< 0.001). TRG-3 scores changed most frequently (41%, 34/82) to DWI-TRG-2 (excellent response). Complete tumour response was recorded clinically in 77/85 patients (91%). Scoring confidence increased using DWI (
p
< 0.001), with scores of 4 or 5 in 84% (287/340). Interobserver agreement remained fair to moderate (kappa range, 0.28–0.58).
Conclusion
DWI complements T2-weighted MRI by reducing the number of indeterminate tumour responses (TRG-3). DWI increases radiologist’s scoring confidence.
Clinical relevance statement
Diffusion-weighted imaging improves T2-weighted tumour response assessment in squamous anal cancer, halving the number of indeterminate responses in the early post treatment period, and increases radiologists’ confidence.
Key Points
Tumour response based on T2-weighted MRI is often indeterminate in squamous anal carcinoma.
Diffusion-weighted imaging alongside T2-weighted MRI halved indeterminate tumour regression grade scores assigned by four radiologists from 24 to 12%.
Scoring confidence of expert and non-expert radiologists increased with the inclusion of diffusion-weighted imaging.
Abstract
Background
Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) incidence is rising in the United States. Study of incidence trends by stage at diagnosis, age-specific and birth cohort patterns, and ...trends in mortality could provide evidence for a true increase and etiological clues for the increase in incidence.
Methods
Using the US Cancer Statistics dataset, we examined trends in SCCA incidence (2001–2015) and mortality (2001–2016) rates. Join-point regression was used to compute annual and average annual percentage change (AAPC). Incidence patterns by 5-year age group and birth cohort were evaluated using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and age-period-cohort modeling.
Results
SCCA incidence increased 2.7% per year (95% confidence interval CI = 2.1% to 3.3%), with pronounced increases in age groups 50 years and older. Distant-stage SCCA incidence tripled (AAPC = 8.6%, 95% CI = 5.4% to 12.0%, among men and AAPC = 7.5%, 95% CI = 4.8% to 10.2%, among women) and regional-stage SCCA incidence nearly doubled (AAPC = 4.7% for men and women) in both sexes; the AAPC for localized stage was 1.3% (95% CI = 0.6% to 2.0%) in men and 2.3% (95% CI = 1.8% to 2.8%) in women. Compared with adults born circa 1946, recently born black men (born circa 1986) had a nearly fivefold higher risk (IRR = 4.7, 95% CI = 2.1 to 10.2) of SCCA, and the risk doubled among white men (IRR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.7 to 2.2) and white women (IRR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.9 to 2.3) born after circa 1960. Anal cancer mortality rates increased 3.1% per year (95% CI = 2.6% to 3.5%) with statistically significant increases in age groups 50 years and older. SCCA incidence-based mortality increased 1.9% annually (95% CI = 0.5% to 3.4%), with a notable (4.9%, 95% CI = 2.4% to 7.3%, per year) rise in adults ages 60–69 years.
Conclusion
The increase in SCCA incidence, particularly advanced-stage disease, and a similar increase in mortality suggest a true increase in the occurrence of SCCA. Future research and improved prevention are urgently needed to mitigate the increasing disease burden.
There is no consensus on screening strategy of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGAIN). Guidelines range from clinical examination with digital anorectal examination followed by standard ...anoscopy (SA), to anal cytology (Pap)+/- HPV genotyping. We compared screening strategy yields based on Pap, SA, and HPV-16 genotyping alone or in combination in HIV-MSM.
Pap, SA, and HPV-16 genotyping were performed in all HIV-MSM attending a first anal cancer screening consultation in Paris, France. High-resolution anoscopy, the gold standard to detect HGAIN, was performed in the case of HPV-16 positivity or abnormal cytology. Yield was defined as the number of patients with HGAIN relative to the total number of patients screened.
On 212 patients, the complete strategy (SA + Pap + HPV genotyping) yield (12.7%) was significantly higher than that of SA (3.3%, p < 0.001) and HPV-16 alone (6.6%, p < 0.05). Although none of the other strategies were significantly different from the complete strategy, Pap + HPV-16 and Pap + SA had closer yields (about 11%), with OR = 0.83 (95% CI 0.44;1.57) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.46;1.64), respectively.
Pap combined with HPV-16 genotyping or SA tended towards higher yields compared to Pap alone, and closer to that of the complete strategy.
Background
Acute anorectal abscess and fistula are common conditions that usually presents as a painful lump close to the anal margin. Tumors in the distal rectum and in the perianal region may mimic ...the symptoms and signs of anorectal sepsis, thereby leading to a delay in diagnosis and management. The purpose of this study was to describe patients presenting with acute perianal abscess or fistula who were subsequently diagnosed with anorectal cancer.
Methods
We performed a retrospective, review of all cases presenting with acute perianal abscess or fistula who were subsequently found to have anorectal carcinoma on biopsy in two tertiary centers. We analyzed the data focusing on the clinical features, laboratory values, clinical staging of the tumors, the subsequent management, the pathological staging, and the outcome of each patient.
Results
Overall, 3219 patients presenting with anorectal abscess or fistula were reviewed. Cancer was diagnosed in 16 (.5%) patients, 12 with adenocarcinoma of the rectum and 4 with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. In 5 patients (31.2%), cancer was diagnosed in the setting of chronic perianal fistula, 4 of them had Crohn’s disease. In 10 patients (62.5%), cancer was not diagnosed during the initial evaluation of the acute symptoms.
Conclusions
A high index of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis of perianal tumors when assessing patients presenting with perianal sepsis, particularly those with Crohn’s disease, a long history of persistent perianal disease, and an advanced age. In most cases, proper drainage followed by proximal diversion are the surgical treatment of choice in the acute setting.
Abstract Objective Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines can potentially control cervical cancer and help to reduce other HPV-related cancers. We aimed to estimate the relative contribution (RC) of the ...nine types (HPVs 16/18/31/33/45/52/58/6/11) included in the recently approved 9-valent HPV vaccine in female anogenital cancers and precancerous lesions (cervix, vulva, vagina and anus). Methods Estimations were based on an international study designed and coordinated at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (Barcelona-Spain), including information on 10,575 invasive cervical cancer (ICC), 1709 vulvar, 408 vaginal and 329 female anal cancer cases and 587 Vulvar Intraepitelial Neoplasia grade 2/3 (VIN2/3), 189 Vaginal Intraepitelial Neoplasia grade 2/3 (VaIN2/3) and 29 Anal Intraepitelial Neoplasia grade 2/3 (AIN2/3) lesions. Consecutive histologically confirmed paraffin-embedded cases were obtained from hospital pathology archives from 48 countries worldwide. HPV DNA-detection and typing was performed by SPF10 -DEIA-LiPA25 system and RC was expressed as the proportion of type-specific cases among HPV positive samples. Multiple infections were added to single infections using a proportional weighting attribution. Results HPV DNA prevalence was 84.9%, 28.6%, 74.3% and 90.0% for ICC, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers, respectively, and 86.7%, 95.8% and 100% for VIN2/3, VaIN2/3 and AIN2/3, respectively. RC of the combined nine HPV types was 89.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 88.8–90.1)-ICC, 87.1% (83.8–89.9)-vulvar, 85.5% (81.0–89.2)-vaginal, 95.9% (93.0–97.9)-female anal cancer, 94.1% (91.7–96.0)-VIN2/3, 78.7% (71.7–84.2)-VaIN2/3 and 86.2% (68.3–96.1)-AIN2/3. HPV16 was the most frequent type in all lesions. Variations in the RC of HPVs 31/33/45/52/58 by cancer site were observed, ranging from 7.8% (5.0–11.4)-female anal cancer to 20.5% (16.1–25.4)-vaginal cancer. Conclusions The addition of HPVs 31/33/45/52/58 to HPV types included in current vaccines (HPV16/18) could prevent almost 90% of HPV positive female anogenital lesions worldwide. Taking into account that most HPV-related cancers are ICC ones, the 9-valent HPV vaccine could potentially avoid almost 88% of all female anogenital cancers.
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