High Resolution Anoscopy (HRA)

Dr. Iswanto Sucandy showing patient a something on a laptop.

AdventHealth Digestive Institute Is One of the Region’s Only Centers Offering HRA Advanced Screening for Anal Cancer

High resolution anoscopy (HRA) is a way for Dr. Gavin Sigle, a AdventHealth Digestive Institute's colon and rectal surgeon, to screen for anal cancer. While colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy can be used to look for colon and rectal cancers, neither of them provide a good view of the anus the same way HRA does.

HRA is recommended for people who have an increased chance of getting anal cancer including:

  • People who have had abnormal results on an anal Pap smear
  • People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Patients who have received an organ transplant
  • Men who have sex with other men
  • Women with a history of cervical cancer or pre-cancer

What HRA Involves

The test does not require special preparation from the patient. However, certain medications may need to be paused, and abstaining from anal sex for at least 24 hours before the procedure is necessary. A mildly acidic solution is placed in the anal canal. This solution will help the doctor spot any abnormal tissues during the HRA. The doctor will gently insert the anoscope, a small tube, into the anus to open it up. Then he or she will use a colposcope to light and magnify the area being examined on a high-resolution monitor. Any abnormal cells will appear white. If they are present, the doctor will numb the area with local anesthesia and remove a sample of the cells for a biopsy.

After the HRA, it is normal to experience slight bleeding for a day or two. Your care team will let you know what to do to help the anus heal quickly after the procedure.

Endoscopy Services

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Kim-Phung T Nguyen, MD

Kim-Phung T Nguyen, MD

Colon and Rectal Surgery

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At AdventHealth Digestive Institute, we know that after being diagnosed with cancer, patients want and often need to begin treatment quickly. So we make it a priority to offer appointments for cancer surgery consultations within five business days, and often earlier.

Patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer, or have just found out they have cancer again, qualify for this priority access. Our surgeons will make themselves available to see you right away, even for a second opinion. We want to help you start your treatment as soon as possible.

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