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Applications

1752 – Anal human papillomavirus (HPV) and cytology testing in high-risk populations to determine access to high-resolution anoscopy and ablative treatment to prevent anal cancer

Find out about the service or technology in this application and the medical condition it addresses. You can also view the application documents, the deadlines for providing consultation input and the outcome of the application when the MSAC process is complete.

  • Status Assessment
  • Type New application
  • Pre-PASC consultation Closed
  • Pre-MSAC consultation Open
  • Outcome Pending

Application details

Applicant

St Vincent’s Hospital

Reason for application

New MBS items (MSAC-MSAC Co-dependent submission).

Service or technology in this application

This application proposes sampling of the anal canal for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and potentially also cytology in populations at high-risk for anal precursor lesions and anal cancer. High-risk populations include all people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (both male and female), HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM), women diagnosed with HPV-related vulval precancerous lesions or cancer, and solid-organ (e.g. kidney) transplant recipients.

Individuals with high-risk anal HPV detected will be referred for diagnostic high-resolution anoscopy (HRA), depending in some cases on their cytology result. Biopsies for histological evaluation will be collected during HRA and ablative treatment will be recommended for those individuals with persistent HSIL.

Type: Investigative and therapeutic technology

Medical condition this application addresses

Anal cancer, although relatively rare in Australia, has been rapidly rising in terms of incidence and mortality, with rates increasing over time in both men and women. Anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) are the precursor of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA). Like cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes approximately 90 per cent of SCCA cases. Due to the histological and biological similarities between cervical and anal cancer, HPV vaccination is expected to be the long-term solution to SCCA prevention.

Consultation survey and deadlines

  • PASC consultation: Closed Friday 12 July 2024
    Any consultation received after this date will automatically be included in the MSAC consultation for this application.
  • MSAC consultation: Closes Friday 13 June 2025 11:59 pm AEST  

For other ways to provide input, see how to have your say.

We welcome input from everyone. We are especially keen to hear from those with lived experience of the health condition, service or technology the application is addressing.

Find out more about consultation.

Meetings to consider this application

  • PASC meeting: 15–16 August 2024
  • ESC meeting: 12-13 June 2025
  • MSAC meeting: 31 July - 1 August 2025

Find out more about our meetings. 

Outcome details

The outcome of this application is pending.

More information

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