Objective: To investigate the main associated clinical characteristics in a group of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus.
Background: Anal carcinoma is associated with sexually transmitted viral carcinogenesis.
Material and methods: We analyzed the charts of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus treated during 1994 and 1995. Demographic characteristics, presence of HIV-1, sexual behavior and the presence of anal warts were analyzed.
Results: There were 41 patients, 26 females and 15 males with a mean age of 61 and 45 years respectively. Twenty-three patients (56%) had history of anal intercourse, 17 (41%) had anal warts and 12 (29%) were HIV-1 (+). This factors were observed more frequently in the male population (p < 0.001). The patients who had anal intercourse had more frequently anal warts and HIV-1(+) compared with those who did not (p < 0.001 in both). The HIV-1 (+) patients had more frequently anal intercourse and anal warts than those HIV-1(-) (p < 0.001 in both).
Conclusion: 1) male population develop squamous cell carcinoma of the anus earlier than female population, 2) there is a high incidence of homosexuality, anal warts and HIV-1(+) in the male population; these findings suggest different mechanism of carcinogenesis in both gender.