Anogenital malignancies and pre‐malignancies
Conflict of interestThe authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Abstract
Anogenital pre‐malignancies and malignancies are frequently encountered. Aetiopathogenetically, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays a critical role. However, there is a variable degree of association of HPV infection with the development of anogenital malignancies. In this context, the high level of clinically unapparent HPV infection should be considered. Therefore, the question arises if the association with HPV is always causative. Besides HPV, pre‐existent lichen sclerosus is also an important aetiopathologic factor in the development of anogenital malignancies.
Common anogenital pre‐malignancies comprise Bowen’s disease (BD), Bowenoid papulosis (BP) and erythroplasia of Queyrat (EQ). From a clinical point of view, these are clearly different entities, but from a histopathological point of view, BD, BP and EQ are indistinguishable. They all represent forms of squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (IN).
Intraepithelial neoplasia (IN) is not only restricted to squamous variants, but also includes non‐squamous IN, Paget’s disease (PD) and melanoma in situ. The risk of developing anogenital (pre)malignancies or other tumours is higher in immunocompromised and immunodeficient patients, in particular those suffering from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Such risk factors will affect treatment and follow‐up modalities. Regarding prophylactic measures, a relatively recent but very important development is the availability of HPV vaccination on a large scale. Momentarily, the effects of such vaccination, on a population‐based scale, are not yet clear but will become apparent in the near future. Management of anogenital pre‐malignancies and malignancies should be tailor‐made and may be organized in a multidisciplinary fashion.
Number of times cited: 24
- Maria R. Nasca, Francesco Lacarrubba and Giuseppe Micali, Human papillomavirus infection and lichen sclerosus: coincidence or link?, International Journal of Dermatology, 57, 5, (617-618), (2018).
- Majoriê Mergen Segatto and Eloísa Unfer Schmitt Botton, Precursor Lesions of Skin Cancer, Dermatology in Public Health Environments, 10.1007/978-3-319-33919-1_13, (297-318), (2017).
- Adam S. Baumgarten, Barrett Z. McCormick, Kenan B. Ashouri, Jasreman Dhillon, Anna R. Giuliano and Philippe E. Spiess, Understanding the Pathophysiology of Penile Cancer and Its Preneoplastic Lesions, Penile Cancer, 10.1007/978-1-4939-6679-0_1, (1-11), (2016).
- Anca Chiriac, Piotr Brzezinski, Cristian Podoleanu and Simona Stolnicu, Erythroplasia of Queyrat Treated with 5% Imiquimod Cream — Case Report Emphasizing the Role of Human Papilloma Virus Testing in a Clinical Setting, Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine, 2, 1, (2017).
- Wiebren A. A. Tjalma, Vasiliki Siozopoulou and Manon T. Huizing, A clitoral verrucous carcinoma in an area of lichen planus has aggressive features, World Journal of Surgical Oncology, 15, 1, (2017).
- Sujita Khanal, Patrick J. Trainor, Maryam Zahin, Shin-je Ghim, Joongho Joh, Shesh N. Rai, Alfred Bennett Jenson and Brian S. Shumway, Histologic variation in high grade oral epithelial dysplasia when associated with high-risk human papillomavirus, Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 10.1016/j.oooo.2017.01.008, 123, 5, (566-585), (2017).
- Dimitrios Haidopoulos, George Bakolas and Lina Michala, Turner syndrome: don't forget the vulva, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports, (2016).
- S. Fouéré, C. Biver-Dalle, J.-L. Prétet, C. Mougin and F. Aubin, Lesiones cutáneas y mucosas asociadas al virus del papiloma humano, EMC - Dermatología, 50, 1, (1), (2016).
- Debra S. Heller, Lesions and Neoplasms of the Penis, Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, 20, 1, (107), (2016).
- Ruzeng Xue, Amira Elbendary, Manuel Valdebran, Soham Chaudhari and Dirk Elston, Pathologic features of anogenital precancerous high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (squamous cell carcinoma in situ), Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, 43, 9, (735-739), (2016).
- Heather Dawson and Stefano Serra, Tumours and inflammatory lesions of the anal canal and perianal skin revisited: an update and practical approach, Journal of Clinical Pathology, 68, 12, (971), (2015).
- Carlos Prieto-Granada and Paul Rodriguez-Waitkus, Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and related entities: Epidemiology, clinical and histological features, and basic science overview, Current Problems in Cancer, 39, 4, (206), (2015).
- Elena Sendagorta, Pedro Herranz, Hector Guadalajara, Jose Ignacio Bernardino, Jose María Viguer, María José Beato, Damian García-Olmo and Jose María Peña, Prevalence of Abnormal Anal Cytology and High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions Among a Cohort of HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex With Men, Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 57, 4, (475), (2014).
- Denisa Kacerovska, Luis Requena, J. Andrew Carlson, Carlos Santonja, Michal Michal, Jiri Bouda, Anastasia M. Konstantinova, Jana Kaspirkova, Tomas Fikrle, Leopold Rotter and Dmitry V. Kazakov, Pigmented Squamous Intraepithelial Neoplasia of the Anogenital Area, The American Journal of Dermatopathology, 36, 6, (471), (2014).
- Lucio Andreassi and Roberta Bilenchi, Non-infectious inflammatory genital lesions, Clinics in Dermatology, 32, 2, (307), (2014).
- Zekayi Kutlubay, Burhan Engin, Tuba Zara and Yalçın Tüzün, Anogenital malignancies and premalignancies: Facts and controversies, Clinics in Dermatology, 31, 4, (362), (2013).
- Tejaswi Mudigonda, Michelle M. Levender, Jenna L. O'Neill, Cameron E. West, Daniel J. Pearce and Steven R. Feldman, Incidence, Risk Factors, and Preventative Management of Skin Cancers in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Review of Single- and Multicenter Retrospective Studies from 2006 to 2010, Dermatologic Surgery, 39, 3pt1, (345), (2013).
- Takahide Kaneko, Gen Nakahishi, Koji Nakajima, Takayuki Aizu, Kayo Jin, Daiki Rokunohe, Yasushi Matsuzaki, Nakano Hajime, Toshihiro Tanaka and Daisuke Sawamura, Amplification of Papillomavirus Oncogene Transcripts Assay for Bowenoid Papulosis, International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 04, 10, (428), (2013).
- Josef Rüschoff and Manfred Hofmann, Tumoren der Analregion, Pathologie, 10.1007/978-3-642-02322-4_33, (707-724), (2013).
- Víctor Pinos-León and Sonia Tello, Papulosis bowenoide: un caso pediátrico, Piel, 28, 6, (329), (2013).
- M. Gutiérrez-Pascual, F.J. Vicente-Martín and J.L. López-Estebaranz, Liquen escleroso y carcinoma escamoso, Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas, 103, 1, (21), (2012).
- Dongsheng Li, Bilin Dong, Zhimin Hu, Liuqing Chen, Xianyu Zeng, Jinbo Chen and Yiqun Duan, A Combined Assay of hTERT and E6 Oncoprotein to Identify Virus-Infected Keratinocytes With Higher Telomerase Activity in Human Papillomaviruses 16 and 18–Related Bowenoid Papulosis, The American Journal of Dermatopathology, 10.1097/DAD.0b013e318252f956, 34, 8, (813-817), (2012).
- M. Gutiérrez-Pascual, F.J. Vicente-Martín and J.L. López-Estebaranz, Lichen Sclerosus and Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas (English Edition), 103, 1, (21), (2012).
- Wendy Heywood and Anthony M. A. Smith, Anal sex practices in heterosexual and male homosexual populations: a review of population-based data, Sexual Health, 9, 6, (517), (2012).




