Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) is the premalignant condition of the anal squamous
tissue. It is associated with the human papilloma virus and is considered the transition
prior to the invasive anal squamous cell carcinoma. It is typically asymptomatic and
can be either an incidental finding after anorectal surgery or identified when high-risk
patient populations are screened. Once AIN is diagnosed, the optimal management remains
controversial, partly because the natural history of the disease is unclear. Surgical
management of the disease has essentially been replaced by more conservative treatment
options and can range from expectant management to topical therapy to photodynamic
therapy. The aim of this article is to review the varied treatment options and to
briefly review prevention strategies.
Keywords
anal intraepithelial neoplasia - imiquimod - 5-fluorouracil - wide local excision
- photodynamic therapy - human papilloma virus
