[Human Papillomavirus: screening of cervical and anal cancers]

Cervical cancer is preventable through primary and secondary prevention. Vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus necessary for the development of precancerous lesions, can prevent most of them. Screening by cytology for these precancerous (or cancerous) lesions can be replaced by screening for certain types of HPV, high risk (HR-HPV), causing cervical cancer. The presence of HR-HPV on the cervix should raise suspicion of concomitant infection in the anus, as both epithelia are highly susceptible. This attitude is dictated by the increase incidence in anal cancer in the population, which is also HPV-dependent and therefore also potentially preventable through vaccination and screening.