Lesão anal por papilomavírus humano em mulher vivendo com HIV/aids

*** Anal lesion caused by human papillomavirus in a woman living with HIV/AIDS ***AIMS: To describe a case of anal lesion caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in a woman living with HIV/AIDS.CASE DESCRIPTION: A 35-year-old woman, diagnosed with HIV five years ago, reported pruritus ani, anal bleeding, painful defecation, and presence of small warts in the perianal region. The patient was seen at a specialized care center and was subjected to clinical examination with visual inspection, which revealed perianal condyloma. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of moderate to severe dysplasia associated with HPV-compatible changes. The anal lesion was excised. At the onset of the symptoms, the patient was not on antiretroviral therapy and her HIV viral load was at its highest (2,951 copies/mL) compared with her previous laboratory tests. She had gone through emotional stress and presented with recurrent genital herpes simplex virus infections. These factors may have predisposed her to the development of anal condyloma.CONCLUSIONS: Since HIV infection may alter the history of HPV infection, it is important that screening strategies include cytological analysis of both the cervix and the anal region.

Perianal rhabdomyomatous mesenchymal hamartoma

A rhabdomyomatous mesenchymal hamartoma (RMH) is a rare benign soft tissue tumour found in the face and neck region of children. A three-month-old male infant was referred to our unit with a polypoid anal lesion that had been present from birth. Histopathological examination of the excised sample showed haphazard arrangement of mature striated skeletal muscle in among nerves and blood vessels, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the lesion to be a RMH. There was no evidence of recurrence during the follow-up period. This case emphasises two points: the unique histological characteristics associated with RMH and how this allows distinction from other differential diagnoses, and the consideration of RMH as a diagnosis in perianal lesions.

Anal screening cytology

This issue of CytoJournal contains an article on screening for anal intraepithelial neoplasia in high-risk male patients. This accompanying Editorial focuses on current understanding of this relatively new disease entity, with insights as to the potential role of screening cytopathology in the epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical management of this HIV and HPV related anal lesion, which predominates in male patients living long-term with AIDS. Mention is made of techniques of obtaining samples, methods of preparation, and morphologic classification. Issues of anoscopic confirmation, as well as topical and surgical management are emphasized. The similarity of initial experiences in anal screening to problems encountered early in cervical cancer screening programs several decades ago, are highlighted.

Anal paracoccidioidomycosis: an unusual presentation of disseminated disease

We report a patient with an unusual anal ulceration. The biopsy of an anal lesion and subsequent studies revealed a disseminated form of paracoccidioidomycosis, observed in the lungs, small and large bowel. The anorectal disease frequently represents a secondary site of disease, and the patient must be better evaluated.