Anal High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in Pharmacologically Immunocompromised Patients Followed in a Referral Center.

Background: Information is lacking regarding anal/perianal precancerous lesions in referral cohorts of pharmacologically immunocompromised patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of anal/perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in a referral cohort of patients on immunomodulator/immunosuppressive medications, who were assessed and followed with high-resolution anoscopy.

Design: This is a retrospective study.

Setting: This study was conducted in a single anal neoplasia service from January 2012 to June 2017.

Patients: Patients on chronic immunomodulator/immunosuppressive medications were included. Cases of concomitant immunosuppression due to HIV infection were excluded, and immunosuppression due to chemotherapy was not considered for this analysis.

Intervention: High-resolution anoscopy was performed.

Main Outcome: The primary outcome measured was the prevalence of anal/perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in a referral cohort of pharmacologically immunocompromised patients.

Results: Fifty-four patients were included, of whom 40 were women (74%), with a mean age of 48 ± 17 years. A total of 232 high-resolution anoscopy examinations were performed in this cohort. At the first evaluation, 28 patients (52%) were diagnosed with anal and/or perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (including 2 cases of perianal squamous cell carcinoma); 11 cases (20%) were new diagnoses. Ten of 46 patients (22%) with follow-up developed a new lesion (high-grade/cancer) during a median follow-up period of 17 (interquartile range, 6-28) months. Overall, 37 patients (69%) in our cohort had anal/perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions ever diagnosed (including previous history, first visit, and follow-up); 5 patients had perianal squamous cell carcinoma. At our center, 6% of the new referrals were known to be pharmacologically immunocompromised patients.

Limitations: The retrospective nature of this study, the heterogeneity of the cohort, and the absence of human papillomavirus testing were limitations of this study.

Conclusions: The presence of anal and/or perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or cancer detected by high-resolution anoscopy in this referral population was high, and the detection of new lesions suggests that long-term follow-up is needed. Patients on immunomodulator/immunosuppressive drugs represented only a small percentage of the new referrals to our center. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A748.