Research recently published by a team from the Program in Women’s Oncology at Women & Infants Hospital, underscored the need for physicians to consider screening patients for anal cancer when they present with a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
The study – entitled “Evaluation of Anal Cytology and Dysplasia in Women with a History of Lower Genital Tract Dysplasia and Malignancy” – was published in the professional journal Gynecologic Oncology. It promotes the work of a team led by Katina Robison, MD, and includes Beth Cronin, MD; Christine Luis, MS; Steven Schechter, MD; Latha Pisharodi, MD; and Paul DiSilvestro, MD.
The recently released research supports earlier published studies Dr. Robison and the team have conducted that connect anal cancer and HPV. Dr. Robison originally presented research indicating the likelihood that the two diseases would coexist in some women at the 2014 HPV Conference.
“This is just further support for our belief that certain women with a history of an HPV-related genital infection would benefit greatly from anal cancer screening,” says Dr. Robison, who is also an assistant professor and co-director of colposcopy at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Anal cancer screening is routinely performed using anal cytology in HIV positive men and women, as well as in men having sex with men. Anal cancer is five times more likely in women with a history of cervical, vaginal or vulvar cancer, which are all linked to HPV. The research indicated that 40 percent of these women were found to have abnormal anal cytology and 20.8 percent of them had high-risk HPV.
In women with no history of cancer, dysplasia or abnormal Pap smears, just 21.7 percent had abnormal anal cytology and only 1.2 percent had high-risk HPV.
Women interested in making an appointment with Dr. Robison or other providers with the Program in Women’s Oncology at Women & Infants can call (401) 453-7520.