What Is High Resolution Anoscopy?
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What Is High Resolution Anoscopy?
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High Resolution Anoscopy, or HRA, is used on patients who have been found to have an abnormal growth of anal cells after undergoing an anal Pap smear. HRA is employed because there is an increased likelihood that these kinds of patients might have anal cancer. The high-resolution magnification employed by HRA allows closer examination of these cell growths. Because of its sensitivity, HRA has been shown to be the most effective way of screening for precancerous cells in the anus. While many may think that a colonoscopy is a good substitute for HRA, this is not true. Colonoscopies cannot facilitate the same degree of examination that HRA can, and so cannot accomplish as much.
During HRA, a small, thin tube is inserted into the anal cavity. The magnifying device at the end of the tube allows the doctor to closely examine the anal cells. Sometimes, a mildly acidic solution is applied to the cells in question, and a biopsy may be performed if necessary. It is not uncommon to have a digital rectal examination also performed before or after HRA.
Anal dysplasia is a condition that can be examined or diagnosed by HRA involving anal cell abnormalities. Lesions or anal warts associated with anal dysplasia can be identified in the lining of the anal canal. This condition has been linked to human papillomavirus, or HPV, a very common STD. Anal dysplasia is also considered a sign of cancer, along with other life-threatening conditions like HIV.
Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, are natural structures in the anal canal. Although they are more commonly mentioned in context of the medical disorder, hemorrhoids themselves are just a type of blood vessel that helps control bowel movements. When these blood vessels swell or become inflamed due to excess stress or force, they can cause pain in the anal cavity. They may also be present with bleeding, but this is not always the case.
Anal dysplasia can be easily treated through infrared coagulation (IRC), with tools like the IRC 2100. During an IRC treatment, infrared light is applied directly to the hemorrhoid or lesion, which causes the blood in that area to clot almost immediately. The treatment is mostly painless, and while some patients have commented on a brief feeling of heat, anesthetic is not required. Complications during or after an IRC treatment are extremely rare, and although a patient may require several treatments to effectively eliminate lesions, this treatment is ultimately very effective.
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