Anal fibroepithelial polyps (PG063)

Anal fibroepithelial polyps is a pathomorphological study of benign connective tissue growths covered with stratified squamous epithelium, localized in the anal canal. Code PG063 involves histological analysis of removed formations (often called "anal papillae" or "sentinel tubercles") to confirm their structure and exclude malignant transformation or viral origin.

Research objective: The main task is differential diagnosis. Since fibroepithelial polyps may outwardly resemble condyloma acuminatum (caused by HPV), adenomitotic polyps, or even early-stage anal cancer, pathomorphological confirmation is critically important for establishing an accurate diagnosis and choosing further follow-up tactics.

What does the pathologist evaluate:

• Stromal structure: detection of dense fibrous connective tissue with a large number of vessels, which is characteristic of this type of polyp.

• Condition of the epithelial cover: assessing the degree of keratinization and looking for signs of reactive hyperplasia.

• Exclusion of atypia: a careful search for dysplastic changes in epithelial cells that could indicate a precancerous condition.

• Presence of inflammation: description of the intensity of tissue infiltration by leukocytes, which often accompanies constant traumatization of the polyp.

• Signs of viral infection: checking for koilocytosis (a sign of HPV) to distinguish a normal polyp from a condyloma.

Clinical significance: The conclusion with the code PG063 allows the proctologist to make sure that the removed formation is the result of chronic inflammation or irritation (for example, hemorrhoids or fissures), and not a true tumor. If the fibroepithelial nature is confirmed, the patient is considered cured after removal and does not require specific oncological supervision.

When is it prescribed:

• after surgical removal of enlarged anal papillae;

• when detecting dense formations in the anal area that cause discomfort or a foreign body sensation;

• for differential diagnosis between polyp, hemorrhoid and condyloma;

• as part of a comprehensive treatment for chronic anal fissure (removal of the "sentinel tubercle").