Monitoring Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease at High Risk of Anal Cancer

Abstract

Anal cancer is a rare but deadly disease that disproportionately affects patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Rates of adenocarcinoma and human papillomavirus–related squamous cell carcinoma have been consistently demonstrated to be higher in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Despite this increased risk, uniform screening, diagnosis, and treatment algorithms are lacking. This review describes the most recent literature surrounding anal cancer in the IBD population as well as the unique challenges inherent in diagnosing and treating this population. We conclude by proposing a new screening motif based off literature review and multidisciplinary clinical experience that aims to increase early detection of anal cancers in the IBD population.