Anoscopy for Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Not Ready for Prime Time?

AIN prevalence was 12% in women with genital intraepithelial neoplasia; anoscopy had excellent sensitivity and specificity, but is probably not yet a feasible screening method.

The prevalence of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) in U.S. women is unknown. Accordingly, investigators sought to assess AIN prevalence in heterosexual women who had genital intraepithelial neoplasia and to compare the effectiveness of anal cytology and anoscopy for detecting AIN. A total of 205 women (mean age, 40) with vulvar, vaginal, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia who were seen at a University of Tennessee gynecologic-oncology clinic underwent both liquid-based anal cytology and anoscopy.

In all, 78 patients (38%) had abnormal anal lesions found on anoscopy, resulting in 25 biopsy-confirmed cases of AIN for a prevalence of 12% (25/205). More than half of these cases (17) were grade II or III AIN. Twelve patients had abnormal a…

Reviewing Author

Wendy S. Biggs, MD

Anoscopy for Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Not Ready for Prime Time?

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Reviewing Author