Targeted ablation of perianal high-grade dysplasia in men who have sex with men: an alternative to mapping and wide local excision.

BACKGROUND

Perianal high-grade dysplasia (Bowen disease) is traditionally treated with mapping and wide excision with possible grafting rather than local ablation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine the results of high-grade perianal dysplasia ablation.

DATA SOURCES: Data for this study were derived from a retrospective chart review at a surgical practice screening and treating patients for high-grade dysplasia between July 1998 and June 2013.

STUDY SELECTION: The patients included were men who have sex with men and are undergoing perianal dysplasia ablation.

INTERVENTION: Ablation of perianal dysplasia with electrocautery, laser, or infrared coagulation was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were the recurrence of perianal dysplasia postablation and factors affecting recurrence.

RESULTS

Seventy HIV-positive and 11 HIV-negative patients enrolled; the median ages were 44.7 and 42.8 years. Median follow-up times for HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients were 4.62 and 3.53 years, and the median numbers of treatments were 4 and 1, p = 0.004. The median number of lesions treated was 1 for both groups. Only 1 HIV-negative patient had a recurrence 8 months after treatment. For HIV-positive patients, the Kaplan-Meier probability of recurrence at 1, 3, and 5 years was 38% (95% CI 26-50), 59% (95% CI 47-72), and 68% (95% CI 55-81) after the first ablation with no difference for subsequent treatments. HIV-positive patients had a relative risk of perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of 3.72 (95% CI 2.10-6.60) compared with HIV-negative patients (p ≤ 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, only each increase in intra-anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions significantly increased recurrence (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.00-1.28, p = 0.002). Only 3 patients with perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions did not have canal dysplasia. Perianal cancer developed in 3 after being lost to follow-up.

LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective analysis of 1 experienced surgeon's results. No precise way exists to accurately determine the size of the disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Perianal dysplasia can be successfully ablated, but recurrence remains high. Almost all patients have anal canal dysplasia. HIV-positive patients are at the greatest risk for disease and recurrence. An increased number of high-grade canal lesions increases recurrence.