A 35-year-old woman, with negative results from a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
antibody test, underwent colonoscopy that revealed whitish nodules and elevated papillary
lesions of various sizes situated in the anal transitional zone ([Fig. 1]). Biopsy of the whitish nodules revealed high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.
The protruding lesions were distributed almost circumferentially. It was difficult
to identify the lateral margins of the high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions
with magnified narrow band imaging (NBI) ([Fig. 1 c], [Fig. 2 a, b]) and indigo carmine dye spraying ([Fig. 1 b]).
Fig. 1 Endoscopic images showing whitish nodules and elevated papillary lesions of various
sizes in the anal transitional zone: a white light; b chromoendoscopy; c narrow-band imaging (NBI).
Fig. 2 a, b Narrow-band imaging (NBI) and zoom magnification did not show an abnormal vessel
pattern such as intraepithelial papillary capillary loop (IPCL) microvessels.
We performed diagnostic circumferential resection of the involved area via endoscopic
submucosal dissection (ESD) ([Video 1]).
Video 1 Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of an anal squamous intraepithelial lesion
with an indistinct border.
The procedure was done using a gastroscope (Olympus, Japan) capped with a small-caliber
tip attachment (ST Hood short type; Fujifilm, Japan). For local anesthesia a 1:1 mixture
of 1 % lidocaine and Glyceol (10 % glycerol and 5 % fructose in normal saline solution;
Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan) was injected into the anal aspect of the lesion. ESD
was performed using a bipolar needle-knife with a waterjet function (Jet B-knife;
Xemex, Japan) and an insulated-tip electrosurgical knife (IT-knife nano; Olympus).
The lesion was resected en bloc, uneventfully.
The pathological findings were of low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in the
protruding lesions and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in the flat area
([Fig. 3], [Fig. 4]). The vertical margin was free of tumor, but the anal horizontal margin was difficult
to evaluate because of epithelial exfoliation. There was no lymphovascular invasion.
Follow-up colonoscopy in 1 year is scheduled.
Fig. 3 Histological examination of the resected specimen. a The specimen is donut-like, and the inner edge is the rectal side, the outer edge
is the skin side. b Distribution of the lesions: green lines indicate low grade squamous intraepithelial
lesion; pink lines indicate high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.
Fig. 4 The border between the high and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. a Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains, the elevated area on the left side is low grade
squamous intraepithelial lesion and shows koilocytosis. In contrast, the area of high
grade squamous intraepithelial lesion is rather flat. b Immunohistochemical staining for p16 shows a block-positive pattern in the area of
high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.
High grade squamous intraepithelial lesions are precancerous lesions which may progress
to invasive cancer [1], and their management has not been established [2]. We have previously reported the efficacy of performing ESD on early anal canal
cancer [3]. Chromoendoscopy and NBI with magnification are useful in delineating the margins
of early anal canal cancer [4]
[5]. However, it was difficult to delineate the margin even using both methods in this
case. The recognition of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions with indistinct
borders, as in this case, is paramount in the prevention of advanced cancer.
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AQ_2AD
Endoscopy E-Videos is a free access online section, reporting on interesting cases and new techniques
in gastroenterological endoscopy. All papers include a high
quality video and all contributions are
freely accessible online.
This section has its own submission
website at
https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/e-videos
