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BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive men who have sex with men (MSM) are at disproportionately high risk for anal cancer. There is no definitive approach to the management of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), which are precursors of anal cancer, and evidence suggests that posttreatment adjuvant quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccination improves HSIL treatment effectiveness. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the optimal HSIL management strategy with respect to clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and to identify the optimal age for initiating HSIL management. METHODS A decision analytic model of the natural history of anal carcinoma and HSIL management strategies was constructed for HIV-positive MSM who were 27 years old or older. The model was informed by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database and published studies. Outcomes included the lifetime cost, life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, cumulative risk of cancer and cancer-related deaths, and cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective. RESULTS Active monitoring was the most effective approach in patients 29 years or younger; thereafter, HSIL treatment plus adjuvant qHPV vaccination became most effective. When cost-effectiveness was considered (ie, an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio [ICER] < $100,000/quality-adjusted life-year), do nothing was cost-effective until the age of 38 years, and HSIL treatment plus adjuvant qHPV vaccination was cost-effective beyond the age of 38 years (95% confidence interval, 34-43 years). The ICER decreased as the age at HSIL management increased. Outcomes were sensitive to the rate of HSIL regression or progression and the cost of high-resolution anoscopy and biopsy. CONCLUSIONS The management of HSIL in HIV-positive MSM who are 38 years old or older with treatment plus adjuvant qHPV vaccination is likely to be cost-effective. The conservative approach of no treatment is likely to be cost-effective in younger patients. Cancer 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Mistrangelo et al raise a number of issues in connection with the International Anal Neoplasia Society guidelines for the practice of High Resolution Anoscopy (HRA) in the era of COVID‐19.The authors suggest that the guidelines advocate “mandatory” HRA for “screening”. On the contrary, the guidelines clearly define risk prioritisation, in terms of both potential COVID‐19 exposure and the dangers associated with delayed diagnosis of anal cancers.Centres without access to high quality HRA services may have to rely on digital anal rectal examination to eventually diagnose large anal cancers. HRA has the ability to accurately identify early anal cancers and worrisome pre‐cancerous lesions, and thus to facilitate early intervention. It therefore has the capacity to substantially improve survival and quality of life of patients. This remains true in the era of COVID‐19, and will be of increasing importance as the epidemic continues and services remain disrupted.

A case report is presented of a large retroperitoneal hibernoma along with the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings. Despite the unusual size and location of this hibernoma, the case illustrates the salient features of these rare tumors of brown fat origin. Pitfalls in preoperative diagnosis are discussed. To date, there has been no convincing evidence of malignant potential of this tumor, and total excision remains the treatment of choice.

An assay for colony-forming cells of breast epithelia derived from normal and malignant surgical specimens is described using an IMR 90 fibroblast feeder layer. Their radiosensitivity (DO: 120-172) is consistent with the proliferative origin of the colonies. Distilled water inhibits proliferation of a proportion of the colony-forming cells after a 1-minute exposure. Continued detection of colonies after 10 minutes of exposure indicates that it is an inefficient way of completely eradicating proliferating epithelial cells of normal and malignant origin.