Allies for Health + Wellbeing is dedicated to making sure our team provides high quality medical care to our clinic patients. We’re proud to announce that we now offer high resolution anoscopy (HRA) as one of our clinic services.

High resolution anoscopy is a specialized screening exam used to detect pre-cancerous changes in the tissue of the anal canal and surrounding skin. If such changes are found, they can be biopsied in-office and treated in order to prevent possible future cancers. During an HRA exam, a small tube is inserted into the anal canal and a magnification device called a colposcope is used to examine tissue closely. 

HRA is often recommended for people with a known history of anal dysplasia, or abnormal cells in the anal canal. Allies also offers anal pap smears to screen for or monitor anal dysplasia. 

'Thankfully, the overall lifetime risk of anal cancer is relatively low,' said Victor Noble, physician assistant at Allies. 'However, we know that certain populations we care about, including people living with HIV and people who engage in receptive anal sex, are at much higher risk over their lifespans. It is estimated that up to 1 in 10 men living with HIV who have sex with men will be diagnosed with anal cancer in their lifetimes. With recent studies confirming the benefit of anal cancer screenings and early treatment, Allies is proud to offer a robust anal cancer screening program.'

If you are interested in making an appointment for high resolution anoscopy or if you would like to schedule an anal pap smear at Allies, you can schedule an appointment on our website at AlliesPGH.org(opens in a new tab) or call 412-345-7456.