title: Long-term follow-up of infrared coagulator ablation of anal high-grade dysplasia in men who have sex with men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously reported on infrared coagulator ablation of anal high-grade intraepithelial squamous lesions in HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) with a median follow-up of 1.5 years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine high-grade intraepithelial squamous lesion recurrence rates after long-term follow-up for infrared coagulator ablation, and whether patients progressed to invasive cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  : This study investigated a retrospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was set in an office-based practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients evaluated were MSM who underwent at least 1 infrared coagulator anal high-grade intraepithelial squamous lesion ablation between 1999 and 2005 with at least 1-year additional follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infrared coagulator ablation had been performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcomes measured were high-grade intraepithelial squamous lesion recurrence and progression to anal squamous-cell carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six MSM were included (44 HIV-positive) with a median follow-up of 48 and 69 months in HIV-negative and HIV-positive MSM. Thiry-five percent of HIV-positive and 31% of HIV-negative subjects from the original cohort were lost to follow-up. In HIV-negative MSM, 32 (62%) had a recurrence in a mean of 14 months. Recurrence rates after the second and third treatments were 48% and 57%. In HIV-positive MSM, 40 (91%) had a recurrence in a mean of 17 months. Recurrence rates after the second, third, and fourth infrared coagulator ablations were 63%, 85%, and 47%. After the first ablation, HIV-positive MSM were 1.9 times more likely to have a recurrence than HIV-negative MSM (P = .009). One year after the first ablation, 61% of HIV-positive MSM had recurrent high-grade intraepithelial squamous lesions in comparison with 38% of HIV-negative MSM. One year after the second ablation, 49% of HIV-positive MSM had recurrent high-grade intraepithelial squamous lesions in comparison with 28% of HIV-negative MSM. In HIV-negative and HIV-positive MSM, the probability of curing an individual lesion after first ablation was 80% and 67%. Most recurrence was due to the development of metachronous lesions occurring in 82% and 52% of HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects after their first infrared coagulator treatment. The mean number of recurrent lesions for both HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM was never >2. No MSM developed squamous-cell carcinoma, and there were no serious adverse events. At last visit, 82% of HIV-positive MSM and 90% of HIV-negative MSM were high-grade intraepithelial squamous lesion free.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a retrospective, observational study with significant loss to follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infrared coagulator ablation is an effective treatment for high-grade intraepithelial squamous lesions, and no patients progressed to cancer. HIV-positive patients are significantly more likely to have a recurrence, and recurrence occurred more rapidly in these patients. Continued follow-up is important.
authors: Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. SEGMD@prodigy.net
authors: Robert N
authors: RN
authors: Goldstone
authors: Andrew B
authors: AB
authors: Goldstone
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Russ
authors: Stephen E
authors: SE
authors: Goldstone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008028:Light Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult