Human Papilloma Virus – Prevention and Treatment

Human papillomavirus infection in solid organ transplant recipients: Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice

These guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice update the epidemiology and management of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in organ transplant recipients. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and is associated with cancers of the anogenital region. Increasing evidence suggests an association with head and neck cancers as well. Solid organ transplant recipients have a higher risk of HPV infection than the general population. Infection manifests as premalignant lesions, warts, or cancer of the cervix, penis, vulva, scrotum, and anal canal. Most are asymptomatic initially, so diagnosis can be difficult without screening. A vaccine is available though not effective in preventing all cancer-causing strains. Organ transplant recipients should be screened for HPV-associated cancers and appropriate therapy initiated in a timely manner. Further studies are warranted to delineate the most effective screening methods and therapeutic modalities, including whether changes in immunosuppression are effective in attenuating disease.

Human Papillomavirus in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection in kidney transplant recipients. HPV causes cervical, anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile and head and neck cancers. Kidney transplant recipients have a disproportionate burden of disease given prolonged immunosuppression. Given the long pre-invasive state of precancer lesions such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) most HPV-cancers are preventable with screening and targeted treatment of disease. Pre-transplant vaccination of age-eligible kidney transplant recipients is otherwise ideal.

Role of Ultrasound in the Assessment of Postmenopausal Bleeding

Uterine bleeding is a symptom seen by gynecologists in approximately 70% of their visits with women of peri and postmenopausal age. A common symptom, postmenopausal bleeding sometimes can be indicative of malignant pathology. While traditional diagnosis took place via endometrial biopsy, diagnosis is trending toward the use of ultrasound. Benefits of ultrasound include its noninvasive nature, decreased cost, and increased accuracy in diagnosis of postmenopausal bleeding. We present a case-based approach to the usage of various ultrasonography techniques including 2D and color Doppler ultrasound, saline infusion sonography (SIS), 3D and 3D power Doppler ultrasound, as complements to traditional diagnosis of endometrial biopsy. In each of the cases, ultrasonography reveals the diagnosis of postmenopausal pathologies, including atrophic endometrium, endometrial polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, and the malignant pathology, such as endometrial carcinoma, uterine leiomyosarcoma and cervical carcinoma. By the end of our case-based discussion, learners are encouraged to test their knowledge in self-assessment quiz.

How to cite this article

Appleton K, Plavsic SK. Role of Ultrasound in the Assessment of Postmenopausal Bleeding. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2012;6(2):197-206.

Prevention of cervical, vaginal, and vulval cancers: role of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (6, 11, 16, 18) recombinant vaccine

The relationship between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and malignancies of the uterine cervix, vagina, and vulva has been established. The development of a quadrivalent HPV recombinant prophylactic vaccine represents the first time in history that primary prevention of these cancers is offered to girls and women. The prevalence of oncogenic HPV subtypes in cervical cancers has been the most studied, but prevalence has also been established for vaginal and vulvar cancers. Clinical trials demonstrate impressive efficacy in disease prevention as well as excellent safety and tolerability. The role the quadrivalent HPV recombinant vaccine promises to have in the reduction of gynecologic malignancies will depend on various factors, including acceptance and accessibility of the vaccine, duration of immunity, and cross-protection against other oncogenic HPV subtypes. The HPV vaccine's role in disease reduction will probably be viewed in the context of a strategy that involves continued secondary screening and lifestyle modification to reduce modifiable risk factors, along with widespread vaccination.