Comparative study of human papilloma virus DNA detection and results ofhistopathological examination of cervical colposcopic biopsy

There is mounting evidence for HPV involvement in cervical cancer HumanPapilloma Virus DNA is detected by hybridization techniques in 75 – 100% of patients withcondylomas, precancerous cervical dysplasia, and invasive carcinoma.

The aim of this study was investigating factors that may contribute to falsenegativecolposcopic biopsy results in positive high-risk HPV DNA results.

Patients positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)DNA with negative cervical histopathologic findings were examined between January2004 and August 2006.

Patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC) inPapanicolaou smears, with positive HPV DNA results, but negative cervicalhistopathologic findings accounted for 4.5% of all ASC smears submitted for HPVDNA testing. We found 4% of the cases had focal HPV infection or mild dysplasia.When serial sectioning of the biopsy material were examined, we found that 29% hadclinically significant lesions: HPV infection or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia CIN 1,18%; CIN II/III, 8%; and dysplasia, not otherwise specified (which we can notcategorize into any group), 3%. Of the remaining patients, follow-up revealed squamousabnormalities in 25%. About 5% of patients with positive HPV DNA results had anegative follow-up biopsy result. "False-negative" biopsies accounted for one third ofcases.

In almost one third of cases, clinically significant lesions were found whenadditional levels were examined.