Morphological and immunohistochemical evidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) involvement in the dysplastic lesions of the uterine cervix

Abstract

A series of 110 biopsies of the [human] uterine cervix containing dysplastic and/or in situ changes were assessed with reference to the presence or absence of the coexistent condylomatous lesions as well as HPV (human papilloma virus) antigens. Morphologically, 79 biopsies contained condylomatous (CO) lesions (63 flat, 12 inverted and 4 papillomatous), and 31 were non-condylomatous (NCO) dysplasias or in situ carcinomas. The mean age of the NCO group was more than 10 yr greater than that of CO women (P < 0.0001). Of the papillomatous CO, 75% were associated with mild or moderate dysplasia only, whereas 42% of the inverted CO contained an associated in situ carcinoma. Most flat lesions were found in women 40 yr of age. HPV antigens were demonstrated in all papillomatous lesions (100%), in 83% of the inverted ones, and in 67% of the flat CO. In general, the frequency of the HPV-positive cases decreased when epithelial atypia increased. No NCO lesion showed HPV positive cells. The results support earlier findings on the association of cervical condylomas and epithelial dysplasias, as well as those on HPV as the etiologic agent of the former.