via aidsmap, by Michael Carter
A clinic-based intervention offers safe and effective treatment for high-grade pre-cancerous anal lesions, US investigators report in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
“Electrocautery ablation of high-grade anal squamous intraepithelial lesions is a safe and effective office-based procedure comparable to other available treatments,” comment the investigators.
Incidence of anal cancer has increased dramatically among gay men in recent years. HIV-positive gay men appear to be especially vulnerable to the disease, and its incidence is five-times higher in these patients compared to HIV-negative men.
Infection with high certain high-risk strains of human papillomavirus can cause cell changes in the anus, resulting in the formation of lesions. The severity of these changes is graded, and between 9% and 13% of high-grade lesions progress to anal cancer.
There are a number of treatments for these pre-cancerous lesions including infrared coagulation and topical creams such as imiquimod.
Another therapy is electrocautery ablation. The investigators described the procedure thus: “Using a gentle brushing technique the lesion was ablated [worn down] by moving [a] blade lightly across the surface like a paint-brush.” The therapy has a number of advantages and can be performed in clinics without the need for anaesthetic or sedation.
Investigators wished to assess the safety and effectiveness of this procedure. They therefore retrospectively analysed the notes of gay men who had the treatment between 2006 and 2010. The patients received an initial treatment and were then followed at intervals of three to six months and were provided with additional treatment if necessary.
Read the rest.
[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]
A clinic-based intervention offers safe and effective treatment for high-grade pre-cancerous anal lesions, US investigators report in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Doctors at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, used a technique called electrocautery ablation to treat pre-cancerous anal lesions in 232 gay men, 132 of whom were HIV-positive.
Eighteen months after treatment, 83% of HIV-negative men and 69% of those with HIV were free of high-grade pre-cancerous anal lesions.
“Electrocautery ablation of high-grade anal squamous intraepithelial lesions is a safe and effective office-based procedure comparable to other available treatments,” comment the investigators.
Incidence of anal cancer has increased dramatically among gay men in recent years. HIV-positive gay men appear to be especially vulnerable to the disease, and its incidence is five-times higher in these patients compared to HIV-negative men.
Infection with high certain high-risk strains of human papillomavirus can cause cell changes in the anus, resulting in the formation of lesions. The severity of these changes is graded, and between 9% and 13% of high-grade lesions progress to anal cancer.
There are a number of treatments for these pre-cancerous lesions including infrared coagulation and topical creams such as imiquimod.
Another therapy is electrocautery ablation. The investigators described the procedure thus: “Using a gentle brushing technique the lesion was ablated [worn down] by moving [a] blade lightly across the surface like a paint-brush.” The therapy has a number of advantages and can be performed in clinics without the need for anaesthetic or sedation.
Investigators wished to assess the safety and effectiveness of this procedure. They therefore retrospectively analysed the notes of gay men who had the treatment between 2006 and 2010. The patients received an initial treatment and were then followed at intervals of three to six months and were provided with additional treatment if necessary.
Read the rest.
[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]
No comments:
Post a Comment