The High Resolution Anoscopy (HRA) course serves as a basic introduction for all clinicians interested in providing this specialized procedure and who work with populations under consideration for anal cancer screening. These include men who have sex with men (MSM), immunocompromised men and women, and women with a history of gynecologic HSIL and cancer. Health care providers from a variety of backgrounds commonly take the course including those in family practice, internal medicine, infectious disease, gynecology, gastroenterology, general and colo-rectal surgery. Providers may or may not have background in gynecologic colposcopy before taking the course. Prior attendees have included MDs and advanced practice clinicians as well as clinicians in training including residents, fellows and RNs.

The course will cover the background and rationale for anal cancer screening, all aspects of the procedures used for screening and management of HPV-associated anal lesions. 

This course has been designed to improve competencies in medical knowledge, practice-based learning, systems-based practice, and patient care. 

• To describe the epidemiology and pathophysiology of anal HPV-associated disease including HPV infection, low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (L/HSIL), anal cancer.

• To identify populations who may benefit from anal cancer screening.

• To teach the diagnostic procedures used in the evaluation of L/HSIL and anal cancer. These include anal cytology, digital anal rectal exam, high resolution anoscopy, anal biopsy and ablative therapies.

• To discuss different treatment and management options for L/HSIL and anal cancer

• To discuss prevention strategies for HPV-associated disease.