Screening strategies for the detection of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in women living with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: HIV-infected women (WLHIV) have more than 10-fold higher risk for squamous cell cancer of the anus. Experts suggest cytology-based strategies developed for cervical cancer screening may prevent anal cancer by detecting anal cytologic or histological high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (hHSIL) for treatment. Currently, there is no consensus on anal-hHSIL screening strategies for WLHIV. DESIGN: Between 2014 and 2016, 276 WLHIV were recruited at 12 US AIDS Malignancy Consortium clinical trials sites to evaluate hHSIL prevalence and (test) screening strategies. METHODS: Participants completed detailed questionnaire, underwent anal assessments including high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing using hrHPV-Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) and hrHPV-APTIMA, anal cytology, and concurrent high-resolution anoscopy. Screening test characteristics for predicting hHSIL validated by central review of histologic diagnosis were estimated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and false-omission rate. Paired analyses compared sensitivity and specificity for hrHPV single tests to anal cytology alone. RESULTS: 83% (229/276) of enrolled WLHIV had complete anal assessment data and were included in this analysis. Mean age was 50, 62% black and 60 (26%) had hHSIL. Anal cyotology (>atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), hrHPV-HC2, and hrHPV-APTIMA sensitivity estimates were similarly high (83, 77, and 75%, respectively, P values > 0.2). Specificity was higher for both hrHPV-APTIMA and hrHPV-HC2 compared with anal cytology (67 vs. 50%, P < 0.001) and (61 vs. 50%, P = 0.020), respectively. CONCLUSION: Anal hrHPV testing demonstrated similar sensitivity for anal cytology (>atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) to predict anal hHSIL. Among tests with similar sensitivity, the specificity was significantly higher for hrHPV-APTIMA and hrHPV-HC2. Thus, anal hrHPV testing may be an important alternative strategy to anal cytology for anal hHSIL screening among WLHIV.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Anal High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

BACKGROUND: Women living with human immunodeficiency virus (WLHIV) have disproportionately high rates of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus compared with the general population of women. Anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) precede anal cancer, and accurate studies of HSIL prevalence among WLHIV in the United States are lacking. METHODS: The AIDS Malignancy Consortium 084 study was a multicenter national trial to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for anal HSIL in a US cohort. Eligible participants were WLHIV aged ≥18 years with no history of anal HSIL. Study participants had an examination including collection of cervical/vaginal and anal specimens, followed by high-resolution anoscopy with biopsy. RESULTS: We enrolled 256 women with evaluable anal pathology. The mean age was 49.4 years, 64% women were non-Hispanic black, 67% were former or current smokers, and 56% reported ever having anal sex with a man. The median CD4 T-cell count was 664 cells/µL. The prevalence of anal histologic HSIL (hHSIL) was 27% (95% confidence interval [CI], 22%-33%). There was a strong concordance (240/254) between local and consensus pathologists for hHSIL vs less than hHSIL (κ = 0.86 [95% CI, .79-.93]). Current CD4 count of ≤200 cells/µL was the strongest predictor of consensus anal hHSIL diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 10.34 [95% CI, 3.47-30.87]). History of anoreceptive intercourse was also associated with hHSIL (aOR, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.22-4.76]). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anal hHSIL in WLHIV in the United States was 27% in this study where all participants received high-resolution anoscopy and biopsy.

Anal cytology as a predictor of anal intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-positive men and women.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals have increased risk of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Cytologic screening is invaluable in the detection of cervical neoplasia, therefore many clinicians have adopted anal cytology as part of anal cancer screening in patients at high-risk for anal neoplasia. The purpose of this study is to determine whether anal cytology is a valuable screening test for identifying AIN in HIV+ patients. The cohort included 228 HIV+ patients who underwent anal cancer screening with collection of 318 anal cytology specimens between January 2006 and December 2009. Of this group, 74 (32.5%) patients had associated anal biopsies within a 6-month period, with a total of 89 comparison cases. The anal cytology samples were classified using the 2001 Bethesda System terminology. The sensitivity of anal cytology in detecting ASC-US, AIN 1-3 or SCC was 93%. Cytology was 88% sensitive for detecting low-grade AIN (AIN 1), but only 20% sensitive for detecting high-grade AIN (AIN 2-3) or SCC. Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance cases were distributed evenly between low- and high-grade AIN, with two cases having normal histology. Only six cases had negative cytology, all of which were associated with AIN on biopsy, for a false negative rate of 7%. Anal cytology is a good predictor of AIN, as confirmed by the high degree of sensitivity. However, there is poor correlation between the cytological and histological grade of AIN. Cytology underestimates the grade of dysplasia compared to the corresponding biopsy.

Ulceronodular syphilis (lues maligna praecox) in a person newly diagnosed with HIV infection.

In this case of secondary syphilis, pustular lesions progressed rapidly to painful ulcerative lesions in a patient with early HIV infection. This rapidly progressive form of early syphilis has historically been called lues maligna praecox, a severe form of noduloulcerative secondary syphilis. Serologic tests for syphilis were positive and biopsy showed forms consistent with Treponema pallidum in the lesions. This case demonstrates how HIV infection may affect presentation and diagnosis of secondary syphilis.

Pulmonary paragonimiasis diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

We report a case of paragonimiasis involving a 12-year-old Latin American boy. The diagnosis was made by fine-needle aspiration biopsy of a pulmonary nodule. Identification of the species by morphometric analysis of the eggs indicated that the infection was caused by Paragonimus mexicanus.

Prophylactic acetaminophen does not prevent epidural fever in nulliparous women: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Epidural analgesia is associated with a four- to five- fold increase in noninfectious maternal fever in nulliparous women. Fever prophylaxis may safely reduce both unnecessary neonatal sepsis evaluations and the potential effect of fever on the fetus. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Immediately after epidural placement, full-term nulliparas with a temperature of <99.5 degrees F received acetaminophen 650 mg or placebo, per rectum, every 4 hours. Tympanic membrane temperatures were measured hourly. Our power to detect an effect of acetaminophen treatment on maternal temperature over time was 90%. RESULTS: In all, 21 subjects were randomized to each arm. Treatment with acetaminophen did not impact maternal temperature curves. Fever >100.4 degrees F was identical in the acetaminophen and placebo groups (23.8%, p=1.0). Neonatal surveillance blood cultures did not reveal occult infection. CONCLUSIONS: Acetaminophen prophylaxis prevented neither maternal hyperthermia nor fever secondary to epidural analgesia, suggesting that the mechanism underlying fever does not include centrally mediated perturbations of maternal thermoregulation.

Cryptococcal infection of the larynx simulating laryngeal carcinoma.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that can cause primary pulmonary infections or disseminate and cause infections of the central nervous system, meninges, skin, and bone in the immunocompromised host. We present here an unusual case of an immunocompetent patient who had laryngitis due to C. neoformans that mimicked a laryngeal carcinoma on clinical examination and imaging studies.