Deep Learning and High-Resolution Anoscopy: Development of an Interoperable Algorithm for the Detection and Differentiation of Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Precursors-A Multicentric Study.

High-resolution anoscopy (HRA) plays a central role in the detection and treatment of precursors of anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC). Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have shown high levels of efficiency in detecting and differentiating HSIL from low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) in HRA images. Our aim was to develop a deep learning system for the automatic detection and differentiation of HSIL versus LSIL using HRA images from both conventional and digital proctoscopes. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was developed based on 151 HRA exams performed at two volume centers using conventional and digital HRA systems. A total of 57,822 images were included, 28,874 images containing HSIL and 28,948 LSIL. Partial subanalyses were performed to evaluate the performance of the CNN in the subset of images acetic acid and lugol iodine staining and after treatment of the anal canal. The overall accuracy of the CNN in distinguishing HSIL from LSIL during the testing stage was 94.6%. The algorithm had an overall sensitivity and specificity of 93.6% and 95.7%, respectively (AUC 0.97). For staining with acetic acid, HSIL was differentiated from LSIL with an overall accuracy of 96.4%, while for lugol and after therapeutic manipulation, these values were 96.6% and 99.3%, respectively. The introduction of AI algorithms to HRA may enhance the early diagnosis of ASCC precursors, and this system was shown to perform adequately across conventional and digital HRA interfaces.

Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is associated with a higher prevalence of HPV in the anorectal fistula tract. A comparative study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is the main risk factor for anal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Whether this occurs due to a higher frequency of human papillomavirus remains unclear. The authors aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV and high-risk HPV in patients with perianal Crohn's disease, compared with a control group. METHODS: The authors conducted a two-center cross-sectional study in which perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease patients were matched for age and sex with patients with anorectal fistula without Crohn's disease. Biopsy specimens were obtained from fistulous tracts during examination under anesthesia for both groups. The samples were sent for HPV detection and genotyping using the INNO-LiPA test. RESULTS: A total of 108 subjects (54 in each group) were recruited. The perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group showed a statistically higher frequency of HPV in the fistulous tract than the control group (33.3% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.046). Separate analyses on high-risk types demonstrated that there was a numerically higher frequency of HPV in the perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group. In multiple logistic regression, patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease were found to have a chance of HPV 3.29 times higher than patients without Crohn's disease (OR = 3.29; 95% CI 1.20‒9.01), regardless of other variables. The types most frequently identified in the perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group were HPV 11 (12.96%) and HPV 16 (9.26%). CONCLUSION: Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is associated with a higher prevalence of HPV than in patients with anorectal fistula without Crohn's disease.

Comparison between anal cytology, high-resolution anoscopy and HPV DNA genotyping by polymerase chain reaction in the post-treatment follow-up of condylomata acuminata.

AIM: to evaluate the presence of subclinical HPV-induced anal lesions with anal cytology, High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA) and HPV genotyping by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the follow-up of treated condylomata acuminata (CA). METHODS: seventy-nine male patients were included. One month after anal CA eradication, the patients underwent brush samples collection for anal cytology and PCR, and HRA with biopsy of acetowhite lesions. These methods were compared within all patients and between groups, according to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection status: HIV-negative; HIV-positive with TCD4 count above and below 350 cells/mm3. RESULTS: the most frequent HPV types were 6 and 16. HPV DNA was isolated in 92%. HIV infection was associated with a higher number of oncogenic HPV types (p=0.038). All patients with negative PCR had negative HRA and cytology. There were no differences in cytological, HRA or histopathological findings between groups. CONCLUSION: the association of the findings of cytopathology, HRA and genotyping of HPV refined the diagnosis of HPV-induced lesions. The degree of immunodeficiency was not associated with increase in remnant HPV-induced anal lesions.

[How far into the anal canal should the brush be introduced for more efficient cytological evaluation?]. / Quanto a escova deve ser introduzida no canal anal para avaliação citológica mais eficaz?

OBJECTIVE: In literature, sensitivity of Pap smears ranges widely from 45 to 98%. Possibly this is because there is no standard for how far the brush should be introduced into the anal canal. The aim was to evaluate whether the sampling site has an influence on the results of anal Pap smears. DESIGN AND SETTING: This is a non-randomized, non-blinded, retrospective review carried out in the Proctology and Pathology Sectors, Emilio Ribas Infectious Diseases Institute. METHOD: We obtained specimens with brushes introduced 4 cm into the anal canal in 114 patients (Group A) and 2 cm in 94 patients (Group B), before anorectal examination. These brushes were rotated five or six times before being withdrawn and rubbed on a slide that underwent Pap testing using standard cytopathology laboratory equipment. All patients were HIV-infected. Statistical tests were used. RESULTS: In Group A, 39 patients had anal canal condylomas and the cytology was positive in 29 of them (74.3%). We also observed cytological alterations in 30 of 75 patients (40%) without clinical lesions in the anal canal. In Group B, there were 54 patients with condylomas and 13 of them (24.1%) were confirmed by cytology. In 40 patients with no clinical lesions, we observed that nine (22.5%) had cytological abnormalities Statistical analysis revealed that examination in Group A was more efficient. CONCLUSION. Specimens collected by inserting the brush deeper into the anal canal improved the efficiency of anal Pap smears.

Comparison of perianal diseases in HIV-positive patients during periods before and after protease inhibitors use: what changed in the 21st century.

PURPOSE: Highly active antiretroviral therapy has enabled better control over HIV infection. Thus, the immunologic status of such patients has been improving and we believe that changes in their perianal diseases also have been occurring. This study was designed to compare anorectal disease incidence among HIV-positive patients attended in two eras: prehighly active antiretroviral therapy and highly active antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: We examined 5,660 HIV-positive patients with anorectal diseases, divided into two groups: 1,860 treated during 1989 to 1995 (Group 1), and 3,800 during 1996 to 2005 (Group 2). RESULTS: In Group 1, the most common diseases were condylomas (24.7 percent), ulcers (21.8 percent), and anal fistulas (19.7 percent). Tumors occurred in 2.5 percent, with Kaposi's sarcoma in 51.1 percent, and squamous-cell carcinoma in 27.6 percent. In Group 2, the most common anorectal lesions were condylomas (75.6 percent), ulcers (17 percent), and fistulas (12.1 percent). The tumor incidence was 1.8 percent, with squamous-cell carcinoma in 59.4 percent and Kaposi's sarcoma in 23.2 percent. Changes in incidence were statistically significant for the increase in condylomas and fissures, and for the decrease in ulcers, fistulas, and Kaposi's sarcoma among Group 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Anorectal disease incidences have changed in the highly active anti-retroviral therapy era.

Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is associated with a higher prevalence of HPV in the anorectal fistula tract. A comparative study

Abstract Background & Aims Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is the main risk factor for anal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Whether this occurs due to a higher frequency of human papillomavirus remains unclear. The authors aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV and high-risk HPV in patients with perianal Crohn's disease, compared with a control group. Methods The authors conducted a two-center cross-sectional study in which perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease patients were matched for age and sex with patients with anorectal fistula without Crohn's disease. Biopsy specimens were obtained from fistulous tracts during examination under anesthesia for both groups. The samples were sent for HPV detection and genotyping using the INNO-LiPA test. Results A total of 108 subjects (54 in each group) were recruited. The perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group showed a statistically higher frequency of HPV in the fistulous tract than the control group (33.3% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.046). Separate analyses on high-risk types demonstrated that there was a numerically higher frequency of HPV in the perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group. In multiple logistic regression, patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease were found to have a chance of HPV 3.29 times higher than patients without Crohn's disease (OR = 3.29; 95% CI 1.20‒9.01), regardless of other variables. The types most frequently identified in the perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group were HPV 11 (12.96%) and HPV 16 (9.26%). Conclusion Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is associated with a higher prevalence of HPV than in patients with anorectal fistula without Crohn's disease.

[Anal cytology for screening of pre-neoplasic lesions]. / Citologia anal para rastreamento de lesões pré-neoplásicas.

BACKGROUND: High grade intra-epithelial neoplasias (HAIN) are probable precursors of anal carcinoma, with association to high-risk types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This progression could be related to severity of the dysplasia and, albeit not yet confirmed, treatment of these lesions would prevent the evolution to cancer. Standardization and improvement of screening methods should therefore be essential to treat or prevent precursor lesions, mainly in patients at risk such as seropositives to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The aim of this study was to evaluate if anal cytology, with a cytobrush, could be useful to screen clinic and pre-clinic lesions provoked by HPV. METHODS: Brushes were used to obtain smears from the anal canal of 102 HIV-positive patients with proctologic complaints. There were 86 males and 16 females with a mean age of 37 years. HPV infection was denied by 33 patients, 14 had treated anal warts in the past, 28 had condylomas in the anal verge, seven had internal clinical lesions and 20 had both internal and external condylomas. The smears were submitted to Pappanicolaou and hematoxilin-eosin stains to identify cytological changes including HAIN. T CD4+ lymphocyte counts were also evaluated to check if the immunologic status caused more advanced dysplasia. RESULTS: One smear only proved insufficient. All the others revealed cellular patterns varying from normality to HAIN. Low grade AIN (LAIN) occurred in 30 and HAIN in 13 patients. One patient with HAIN, without a history of HPV infection in the past, presented an anal canal ulcer which at biopsy was diagnosed as invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. T CD4+ cells averaged 281/mm(3) for LAIN patients and 438/mm(3) for HAIN patients. Analyses disclosed a statistical difference, showing that despite expectations, more advanced dysplasias occurred in patients with higher counts of T CD4+ cells. This fact demonstrated that isolated systemic immunity did not seem to interfere in the genesis of these lesions, suggesting that aspects of local immunity should be studied. Statistical analyses by a 2x2 table revealed sensibility of 74% and specificity of 61%. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that cytology could be used to diagnose anal cancer precursors.

[Outcome of treatment of anal squamous cell carcinoma and its precursor in HIV-infected patients]. / Resultados do tratamento do carcinoma espinocelular anal e do seu precursor em doentes HIV-positivos.

OBJECTIVE: Incidence of anal squamous cell carcinoma is increasing mainly among HIV-positive patients. Treatment consists of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, sometimes followed by tumor resection. The objective was to evaluate the follow-up of such patients to verify recurrences and evolution from HAIN to cancer. This is a report of cases treated at the "Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas", Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: We attended 45 HIV-positive patients between July 1996 and June 2006. Most were male (97.7%), with ages ranging from 23 to 55 years (mean: 38.5 years). Thirty patients had high grade anal intra-epithelial neoplasia (HAIN), treated with local resection, and 15 with anal canal invasive squamous cell carcinoma were first submitted to chemo radiation, while biopsies were obtained during follow-up. RESULTS: Patients with HAIN had recurrences in 16.7% of cases and remained cancer free for up to five years. Chemoradiation was not possible in five patients with invasive carcinoma (40%) because three had advanced AIDS and two refused treatment. Eight (88.8%) out of nine patients had complete response to chemoradiation and remained cancer free for a period from three to six years. Chemoradiation failed in the ninth patient: abdominal perineal resection was performed, and there was no recurrence over a five-year period. CONCLUSION: We concluded that HAIN can recur after local resection in HIV-positive patients but does not evolve to invasive carcinoma. Invasive cancer can be treated in the same way as in HIV seronegative persons, when clinical conditions permit.

Comparative analysis of anal colposcopy with histology in the follow-up of patients under treatment for anal condyloma

Objectives: To compare morphological abnormalities on anal colposcopy against histology to determine anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). Methods: This is a retrospective data assessment of HIV-negative and HIV-positive patients undergoing outpatient follow-up. The sample comprised 54 patients presenting acetowhite lesions on anal colposcopy. Acetowhite lesions were classified according to their morphology into punctation, verrucous, mosaic, ulcerated, or hypervascularized, and biopsies of these specimens were classified as anal HSIL, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), or normal. The data were analyzed using SPSS forWindows version 13.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The results were analyzed using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, the Fisher exact test and the chi-squared parametric test. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was used and a level of significance <5% was adopted for all statistical tests. Results Fifty-four patients (50 males, 80% HIV+) with biopsied acetowhite lesions were assessed. There were 31 punctation lesions, 1 classified as HSIL (3.2%; 95%CI: 0- 40.0), 17 verrucous lesions, 3 HSIL (17.7%; 95%CI: 0-10.7), and 1 ulcerated, classified as HSIL (100%), and 4 mosaic and 1 atypical vessel lesion, all classified as LSIL. The results showed no association of presence of anal HSIL with positivity for HIV infection or with counts above or below 500/µl in HIV+patients. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney nonparametric test, the Fisher exact test, and the chi-squared parametric test. Conclusion: The comparison of morphological findings on anal colposcopy against histology revealed no morphological pattern suggesting anal HSIL. (AU)

Tumor de Buschke-Lowenstein perianal: relato de dois casos tratados com podofilina em vaselina sólida 25% / Perianal Buschke-Lowenstein tumor: report of two cases treated with 25% podophyllin ointment

O tumor de Buschke-Lowenstein (TBL) é variante extremamente rara do condiloma acuminado que, apesar de manifestar-se clinicamente por lesões de grandes proporções, apresenta comportamento biológico e características histológicas benignas. Existem diversas abordagens terapêuticas disponíveis, muitas delas apoiando-se em abordagens cirúrgicas extensas e mutilantes. Apresentamos dois casos de pacientes com TBL tratados com podofilina tópica, cujas respostas terapêuticas foram extremamente favoráveis em ambos os casos.

Buschke-Lowenstein tumor (BLT) is an extremely rare variant of condylomata acuminata that despite being clinically presented by large lesions, presents a benign biological behavior and histological characteristics. There are a number of therapeutic approaches available, many of which rely on extensive and mutilating surgical procedures. We present two cases of patients with BLT treated with topical podophyllin whose therapeutic responses were extremely favorable in both cases.

Analyzing the prevalence of proctological diseases in HIV-positive and -negative patients / Análise da prevalência de doenças proctológicas em pacientes HIV positivo e negativo

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare proctological diseases in HIV-positive and -negative patients. Method: Prospective study conducted in the proctology outpatient clinic at Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas from 2013 through 2019. All of them underwent anamnesis and proctological examination and were divided into two groups (HIV+ and HIV−). The groups were then compared with regard to age, sex, diagnosis, and whether or not there was any indication for surgery. Results: 485 HIV + patients (41.9%) (Group I) and 672 HIV− (58.1%) (Group II). The mean age in Group I was 42.8 years, and 404 (83.3%) of the patients were males. In Group II, the mean age was 48.3 years, and 396 (59%) patients were females. In comparing the groups, a statistically significant difference was found regarding sex, age, and diagnosis. The incidence of hemorrhoid and anal skin tags was higher in group II and that of condyloma acuminata was higher in in Group I (p < 0.001). In Group I, condyloma acuminata was more prevalent, but in those with CD4 levels above 500 cells/mm3, the diagnoses were more similar to those in the population without HIV. Conclusions: Proctological diseases were found to be similar but have different incidences. The incidences of diseases in HIV− and + patients tend to approach each other as CD4 level increases.

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar as doenças proctológicas nos pacientes HIV positivos e negativos. Método: Estudo prospectivo realizado no ambulatório de proctologia do Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas de 2013 a 2019. Todos foram submetidos a anamnese e exame proctológico, e divididos em dois grupos (HIV+ e HIV−) sendo comparados em relação a idade, sexo, diagnóstico e se havia ou não indicação cirúrgica. Resultados: 485 pacientes HIV+ (41.9%) (Grupo I) e 672 HIV negativos (58.1%) (Grupo II). A média de idade do Grupo I foi 42.8 anos sendo 404 (83.3%) do masculino. No grupo II, a média de idade foi de 48.3 anos, sendo 396 (59%) do sexo feminino. Comparando os grupos, houve diferença estatisticamente significante em relação ao sexo, idade e diagnóstico. Houve maior incidência de hemorróida e plicoma no Grupo II e condilomas acuminados no Grupo I (p < 0.001). No Grupo I, o condiloma acuminado foi mais prevalente, porém naqueles com CD4 acima de 500 células/mm3, os diagnósticos se aproximaram da população sem HIV. Conclusão: As doenças proctológicas foram semelhantes, com incidências diferentes. A incidências das doenças de pacientes HIV− e + tendem a se aproximar na medida que o nível do CD4 aumenta.

Comparison between anal cytology, high-resolution anoscopy and HPV DNA genotyping by polymerase chain reaction in the post-treatment follow-up of condylomata acuminata / Comparação entre citologia anal, colposcopia anal e genotipagem do HPV por reação em cadeia da polimerase no seguimento pós-operatório de condiloma acuminado

ABSTRACT Aim: to evaluate the presence of subclinical HPV-induced anal lesions with anal cytology, High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA) and HPV genotyping by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the follow-up of treated condylomata acuminata (CA). Methods: seventy-nine male patients were included. One month after anal CA eradication, the patients underwent brush samples collection for anal cytology and PCR, and HRA with biopsy of acetowhite lesions. These methods were compared within all patients and between groups, according to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection status: HIV-negative; HIV-positive with TCD4 count above and below 350 cells/mm3. Results: the most frequent HPV types were 6 and 16. HPV DNA was isolated in 92%. HIV infection was associated with a higher number of oncogenic HPV types (p=0.038). All patients with negative PCR had negative HRA and cytology. There were no differences in cytological, HRA or histopathological findings between groups. Conclusion: the association of the findings of cytopathology, HRA and genotyping of HPV refined the diagnosis of HPV-induced lesions. The degree of immunodeficiency was not associated with increase in remnant HPV-induced anal lesions.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar a presença de lesões anais subclínicas HPV-induzidas com citologia anal, colposcopia anal e genotipagem de HPV por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) no seguimento de condilomas anais tratados. Método: foram incluídos 79 pacientes do sexo masculino. Após um mês da erradicação de lesões condilomatosas anais, os participantes voltaram em consulta para coleta de amostras com escova para citologia anal e PCR, e colposcopia anal com biópsia de lesões acetobrancas. Os métodos de detecção das lesões foram comparados entre os pacientes e entre grupos, de acordo com o status de infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV): HIV-negativo; HIV-positivo com TCD4 acima ou abaixo de 350 células/mm3. Resultados: os tipos de HPV mais frequentes foram 6 e 16. Infecção pelo HIV foi associada a maior número de tipos de HPV oncogênicos (p=0,038). Todos os pacientes com PCR negativo apresentaram colposcopia e citologia negativos. Não houve diferença nos achados citológico, colposcópico ou histopatológico entre grupos. Conclusão: a associação dos achados citopatológico, colposcópico e PCR melhorou a acurácia do diagnóstico de lesões anais HPV-induzidas. O grau de imunodeficiência não foi associado a maior frequência de lesões anais HPV-induzidas remanescentes.

Effects of long-term administration of Senna occidentalis seeds in the large bowel of rats.

Plants of the genus Senna that contain anthranoides derivatives are frequently used as cathartics. Radiological studies have demonstrated that patients with chronic constipation who have used stimulant laxative have colonic redundancy and dilatation more frequently than patients who have not. The objective of the present work was to study morphological and histochemical changes of the lower gut after administration of Senna occidentalis seeds for a long period to rats, as observed in skeletal muscle fibers. Fragments of the lower gut of young and adult rats treated with S. occidentalis seeds (2% for 171 days and 3% for 61 days in the diet) were submitted to histological and histochemical analysis and to densitometry. The most important finding was decreased oxidative enzyme activity in smooth muscle cells and in myenteric neurons of the large bowel. As oxidative metabolism is essential for ATP and energy production, these results suggest that the functional intestinal disturbance caused by the chronic use of Senna occidentalis as a laxative can be due to a metabolic effect involving energy production, which would decrease colonic motility and cause functional colonic dilatation, but without any irreversible anatomic change.

[Human papillomavirus oncogenicity and grade of anal intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV positive patients]. / Oncogenicidade do papilomavírus humano e o grau de neoplasia intra-epitelial anal em doentes HIV positivo.

OBJECTIVE: We decided to evaluate if grade of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) was associated to the HPV type in HIV positive patients, since this group of patients has immunodeficiency over long periods. We identified HPV types by PCR (polimerase chain reaction) and histological examination to determine the AIN grade in 39 HIV positive males with anal condylomata acuminata. RESULTS: We observed high grade AIN (HAIN) in 9 (23.1 percent) and low grade AIN (LAIN) in 30 patients (76.9 percent). The most frequent HPV types were 6 and 11 (64 percent) and oncogenic types 16, 18 and 31 appeared in 20.5 percent of patients. We could not identify viral type in four patients (10.2 percent) despite tests revealing presence of viral deoxiribonucleic acid. Comparing AIN grades with viral types we observed that non-oncogenic types can also be associated with HAIN lesions. CONCLUSION: These results allowed us to conclude that both oncogenic and non-oncogenic HPV types can be associated with HAIN lesions in HIV positive patients.

[Adenocarcinoma of the duodenum]. / Adenocarcinoma primário do duodeno.

PURPOSE: To revise literature data about adenocarcinoma of the duodenum comparing to our results. METHODS: Six patients with this kind of cancer, excluding periampullary lesions, were treated from 1991 to 1999 in the Department of Surgery, Santa Casa of São Paulo Medical School. Five of them were males in theirs fifties. The commonest signs and symptoms were those of gastrointestinal obstruction and weight loss. All patients were evaluated by duodenoscopy. Ultrasonography and CT scans played an important role with regard to preoperative staging. Three patients underwent a segmental resection and the others were submitted to a palliative duodenal bypass. RESULTS: Post-operative hospitalization varied from 5 to 9 days (7,3 days average). The operative mortality was 16.6% (one patient). Patients were not submitted to chemo or radiotherapy. Follow-up has been done. Patients with curative resection were free from recurrence. Two patients submitted to palliative operations were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Rarity of duodenum carcinomas and few patients in the literature did not permit conclusions.

Genital warts: comparing clinical findings to dermatoscopic aspects, in vivo reflectance confocal features and histopathologic exam.

Genital warts can be diagnosed through physical examination and confirmed by histopathology. Noninvasive methods are useful for ruling out other diagnoses with no harm to the patient. In this study the clinical findings were compared to dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), and to histopathology findings, in order to determine possible patterns that can aid diagnosis of the lesion. It was possible to identify structural changes on reflectance confocal microscopy that are already known by dermoscopy, in addition to cellular changes previously seen only by histopathological examination. This study shows the use of reflectance confocal microscopy in cases of genital warts, providing important information that can be used in further studies.

Local control of human papillomavirus infection after anal condylomata acuminata eradication.

OBJECTIVE: To verify whether the eradication of anal condylomata acuminata was effective for local control of HPV infection using anal colposcopy and anal brush cytology. METHODS: We evaluated 147 patients treated for anal margin and/or anal canal condyloma, with 108 HIV-positive and 39 HIV-negative individuals. The average age for males was 40 years for HIV-positive and 27.5 for HIV-negative. In females, the mean age was 37.5 years for HIV-positive and 31.5 for HIV-negative. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (16.3%) had normal cytology and anal colposcopy, 16 (10.9%) normal cytology and altered anal colposcopy, 52 (35.4%) normal anal colposcopy and altered cytology, and 55 (37.4%) had altered cytology and anal colposcopy. CONCLUSION: the eradication of clinical lesions failed to locally control HPV infection.

Evaluation of Langerhans cells counts comparing HIV-positive and negative anal squamous cell-carcinoma patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in Langerhans cells (LCs) populations between HIV-positive and negative anal squamous cell carcinomas patients. METHODS: Twenty five patients (14 HIV-positive and 11 HIV-negative) were evaluated. Paraffin-block transversal thin sections from biopsies of anal squamous cell carcinomas (ASCC) were stained using the anti-CD1A antibody that identifies activated LCs. LCs counts were performed using histometry at 20 different sites, at baseline in the ASCC cases. These were then compared with LCs counts in anal canal specimens from HIV-negative and positive patients without ASCC (controls groups). RESULTS: In patients with ASCC, the LC count was greater among HIV-negative individuals than among HIV-positive individuals (p<0.05). The LC count was greater in the control HIV-negative group than in HIV-positive patients with ASCC (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a lower amount of activated LCs in HIV-positive patients with anal squamous cell carcinomas than in HIV-negative patients, thereby suggesting worsening of the immune response.

Buschke -Loewenstein tumor: identification of HPV type 6 and 11.

The authors report a case of exuberant giant condyloma acuminatum of Buschke-Loewenstein in a male patient, slow-growing, progressive and with locally destructive behavior in the inguinal, body of the penis, scrotum, perineal and perianal regions. After surgery he showed no signs of recurrence in 20 months of follow-up. The identification of HPV types 6 and 11 was performed using in situ hybridization.