Age-specific detection of high risk HPV DNA in cytologically normal, computer-imaged ThinPrep Pap samples

HPV Cotesting of Unsatisfactory Papanicolaou Tests: Implications for Follow-up Intervals

OBJECTIVES

The 2019 American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology management guidelines recommend that patients with an unsatisfactory Papanicolaou (Pap) test (UPT) and negative human papillomavirus (HPV) cotest undergo repeat age-based screening in 2 to 4 months. The rationale is that a negative HPV test in the setting of an UPT may reflect an inadequate sample and therefore should not be interpreted as truly "negative." For patients 25 years and older who are cotested, if HPV is positive for the 16 or 18 genotypes, direct referral for colposcopy is recommended. Our study aimed to determine if a negative HPV cotest result is predictive of the absence of a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and whether these patients may be called back for repeat testing at an interval longer than 2 to 4 months.

METHODS

Follow-up cervical cytology and biopsy results in women with UPT and HPV cotests from January 2017 to December 2021 were collected. Original UPT and HPV cotest results were correlated with the follow-up Pap and biopsy results.

RESULTS

There were 1,496 (2.28%) UPT cases out of 65,641 total Pap tests. Among the 1,496 UPT cases, 1,010 (67.5%) had HPV cotesting; 676 (45.1%) were followed by repeat Pap or biopsy within 4 months and 850 (56.8%) within 12 months. The total follow-up rate was 81%, with a range of 3 days to 36 months. The HSIL rate in HPV-positive cases was 5.7% (3/53) vs 0.4% (2/539) (P = .006) in HPV-negative cases. In UPT, HPV cotesting showed negative predictive values for low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion detection of 98.5% and 99.6%, respectively, while positive predictive values were 19% and 5.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

A negative HPV cotest in individuals with UPT predicted the lack of HSIL in our study. Compliance with the recommended follow-up time of 2 to 4 months for women with UPT was low (45.1%). Our study suggests that women with UPT and negative HPV cotest may be safely called back at an interval longer than 4 months.

Molecular Characterization of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Women in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is found in over 99% of cervical cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV in a population of women in Bobo-Dioulasso and to identify the high-risk types present in these women. From May to June, 2015, 181 women who came for consultation at the Souro Sanou University Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso have been included in this study. Uterine endocervical swabs have been taken in these women. DNA obtained by extraction from the samples thus collected was used to determine the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus genotypes through real-time PCR. The age of the women ranged from 20 to 56 years with a mean of 35.3 ± 8.1 years. The prevalence of infection by high-risk HPV types was 25.4% (46/181). The most common high-risk HPV genotypes were HPV 39 (18.5%), HPV 52 (16.7%), HPV 18 (14.8%), and HPV 35 (13.0%). HPV 16 which is included in the HPV vaccines was not found in the population studied. This type of study which is the first one in Bobo-Dioulasso has showed a high prevalence of genotypes HPV 39, HPV 52, and HPV 35 which are not yet covered by a vaccine.

Cervista HR and HPV 16/18 assays vs hybrid capture 2 assay: outcome comparison in women with negative cervical cytology

Sensitive and specific assays for human papillomavirus (HPV) are essential for patient management. In this study, we directly compared the efficacy of the Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2; Qiagen, Valencia, CA) and Cervista assays (Hologic, Madison, WI). Consecutive cervical cytology specimens (n = 601) were tested using HC2, Cervista HR, and Cervista HPV 16/18 with analysis of only cytology-negative cases (n = 533). Results indicated no significant difference (P = .458) in prevalence rates between HC2 (7.5%) and Cervista HR (8.5%). The Cervista 16/18 prevalence was 1.6%. The negative percentage of agreement was 95.1% (468/492) vs a 70% (28/40) positive percentage of agreement. No false-negative results were detected by the Cervista internal DNA control. Our data show 29 discordant positive results (12 HC2 and 17 Cervista HR), suggesting some women with negative cytology may be triaged for unnecessary follow-up with either assay. For clinical screening, Cervista HR and HC2 are comparable and, by extension, should provide excellent negative predictive value for histologically relevant disease.

Evaluation of type-specific HPV persistence and high-risk HPV viral load quantitation in HPV positive women under 30 with normal cervical cytology

The persistence of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection is necessary for the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The aim of this study was to evaluate if HR-HPV typing and HPV16, 18, 31, and 33 quantitation are predictive for type-specific infection persistence and/or the development of CIN in women under 30 with normal cervical cytology. Young women (under 30) attending a family planning clinic who were HPV positive with normal cervical cytology were included. HPV genotyping was assessed by MY09/MY11 PCR, sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and cloning when necessary. HR-HPV viral load was quantified using duplex real-time PCR. Study patients were offered for a second smear and HR-HPV detection and quantitation after 12 months. HR-HPV was identified in 43 (21.9%) of the 199 included women. Of these, 39 patients had a second cervical sample taken within a mean interval of 11.7 months (8.8-18.3 months). The mean HR-HPV 16, 18, 31, and 33 initial viral load was 1.9 × 10(6) copies/million cells. The level of viral load did not reveal any significant association with type-specific HR-HPV persistence or the subsequent development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Only HPV16 infection was significantly more likely to persist (91.7% vs. 33.1%, P=0.001) and to develop CIN (33.3% vs. 3.7%, P=0.025). In women under 30 with normal cytology, HR-HPV viral load is common and is not predictive of HPV persistence or the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. HPV16 positive women are significantly more likely to have persistent infection and to develop cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Evaluation of a cervical cancer screening program based on HPV testing and LLETZ excision in a low resource setting

We conducted studies in Vanuatu to evaluate potential screening and treatment strategies to assist with control of cervical cancer. In a pilot study of 496 women, visual inspection and cytology were evaluated as screening tests for detection of CIN 2 or worse (CIN2+), observed in 21 of 206 subjects biopsied on the basis of abnormal visual inspection or cytology. Sensitivity of visual inspection with Lugol's Iodine for detection of CIN2+ on biopsy was 0.63, specificity was 0.32, and the positive predictive value was 0.09. For HSIL cytology, sensitivity was 0.99, specificity was 0.77, and the positive predictive value was 0.88. HSIL cytology was significantly more sensitive and had a significantly higher PPV for CIN 2+ than visual inspection (p<0.01). In a further study of 514 women, we compared testing for HR HPV and cytology as predictors of biopsy proven CIN 2+. Sensitivity of HSIL cytology for CIN2+ as established by loop excision of the cervix was 0.81, specificity was 0.94, and positive predictive value was 0.48. Sensitivity of a positive test for HR HPV for detection of CIN2+ was non-significantly different from cytology at 0.81, specificity was 0.94, and positive predictive value was 0.42. Combining the two tests gave a significantly lower sensitivity of 0.63, a specificity of 0.98, and a positive predictive value of 0.68. For women over 30 in a low resource setting without access to cytology, a single locally conducted test for high risk HPV with effective intervention could reduce cervical cancer risk as effectively as intervention based on cytology conducted in an accredited laboratory.

Image-guided ThinPrep Papanicolaou tests and cotesting with high-risk human papillomavirus in women aged 30 years and older in a low-risk private practice population

BACKGROUND

Screening for cervical cancer precursors has evolved considerably with the introduction of new technologies to improve the early detection of disease. The objective of this study was to analyze the accuracy and effectiveness of combined screening with cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) testing in a low-risk population of women aged >or=30 years.

METHODS

Consecutive unselected samples from a group of 1871 women aged >or=30 years were screened with image-guided ThinPrep tests and HR-HPV tests during a 6-month period. Histologic follow-up was reviewed among women with positive HR-HPV tests.

RESULTS

A total of 85 (4.5%) women had positive HR-HPV tests. In 48 HR-HPV-positive women with follow-up biopsies, 41 (85%) were found to have histologic abnormalities. Thirty-three (1.9%) women with cytologically normal Papanicolaou (Pap) tests harbored HR-HPV, and a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ lesion was detected in 1 (16%) of 6 women with histologic follow-up. Conversely, 2 (28%) of 7 women with high-grade intraepithelial lesion on cytology tested negative for HR-HPV during the same period. A case of serous carcinoma with atypical glandular cells on cytology was also negative for HR-HPV, as expected.

CONCLUSIONS

In this low-risk population of women aged >or=30 years, histology-confirmed CIN2+ lesions were identified in women with negative cytology and positive HR-HPV tests, as well as in those with positive cytology and negative HR-HPV tests. Because both cytology and HPV testing alone missed significant lesions, cotesting with Pap and HR-HPV in women aged >or=30 years appears to be a reasonable option in a low-risk population.

High-risk human papillomavirus DNA test results are useful for disease risk stratification in women with unsatisfactory liquid-based cytology pap test results

OBJECTIVES

This study assesses whether high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test results from residual vial fluid of unsatisfactory liquid-based cytology(LBC) samples might provide useful information on disease risk.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with unsatisfactory imaged ThinPrep Pap test results and available Hybrid Capture 2 high-risk HPV results were identified at an academic women's hospital laboratory between July 1, 2005, and July 31, 2007. Follow-up repeat cytology results, HPV results, and available biopsy results were analyzed.

RESULTS

Three hundred four patients with unsatisfactory cytology results and HPV test results were studied. Eleven (3.6%) of 304 tested positive for HPV DNA, and 293 tested HPV negative. Five (45%) of 11 HPV-positive patients had detectible low-grade squamous intraepithelial/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 during a mean follow-up period of almost 6 months. Among 293 women with negative HPV results, only 1 case of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 was identified during roughly the same follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive high-risk HPV result associated with an unsatisfactory ThinPrep Pap test result identified patients at risk for diagnosis of an undetected squamous intraepithelial/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Negative high-risk HPV results associated with an unsatisfactory LBC had high negative predictive value in this limited study. The overall low detection rate for significant disease on follow-up of all patients with unsatisfactory imaged LBC is similar to findings reported in another LBC study but differs from studies reporting increased risk for undetected disease in women screened with unsatisfactory conventional Pap smears.

Adjunctive human papillomavirus DNA testing is a useful option in some clinical settings for disease risk assessment and triage of females with ASC-H Papanicolaou test results

CONTEXT

Recent guidelines recommend colposcopy for women with atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H). objective: To determine whether adjunctive high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing is useful for disease risk assessment in females with ASC-H Papanicolaou (Pap) test results.

DESIGN

High-risk HPV prevalence and histopathologic follow-up data on 1187 females with ASC-H ThinPrep Pap test (TPPT) and hrHPV test results were analyzed.

RESULTS

ASC-H was reported in 1646 (0.59%) [corrected] of 277 400 (270 338 TPPT and 7062 conventional) Pap test results. The difference in ASC-H detection rates between TPPTs and conventional Pap smears was statistically significant (0.60% vs 0.38%; P = .02). High-risk HPV was detected in 589 (49.6%) of 1187 females with ASC-H TPPT and hrHPV testing. The hrHPV DNA-positive rate in females younger than 40 years was 54.7%, significantly higher than the 36.5% in women 40 years and older. Among 505 females with histopathologic follow-up, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 was identified in 32.7% of hrHPV-positive females compared with 1.2% in hrHPV-negative females. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ASC-H cytology in conjunction with hrHPV DNA testing results for detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 were 96.1% versus 100.0%, 54.0% versus 68.4%, 35.8% versus 20.8%, and 98.1% versus 100.0% in females younger than 40 years and women 40 years and older, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that reflex hrHPV testing is a highly useful option for women with ASC-H Pap tests. Females with ASC-H and negative hrHPV testing may be more efficiently managed by follow-up with regular Pap and hrHPV testing rather than universal colposcopy, especially for women 40 years and older.

Age-specific prevalence of infection with human papillomavirus in females: a global review

PURPOSE

Global data on age-specific prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection overall, and for high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, are essential for the future implementation of HPV prophylactic vaccines for cervical cancer prevention.

METHODS

A systematic review of peer-reviewed publications was conducted to summarize worldwide data on genital HPV-DNA prevalence in women. Studies with clear descriptions of polymerase chain reaction or hybrid capture detection assays were included.

RESULTS

A total of 346,160 women were included in 375 studies. Of 134 studies with age-stratified HPV prevalence data (116 low sexual risk populations, 18 high sexual risk populations), over 50% were from Europe and the Middle East (38%) and North America (19%), with smaller proportions from Asia and Australia (21%), Central and South America (11%), and Africa (10%). Across all geographical regions, data on HPV prevalence were generally limited to women over 18 years of age. Consistently across studies, HPV infection prevalence decreased with increasing age from a peak prevalence in younger women (< or =25 years of age). In middle-aged women (35-50 years), maximum HPV prevalence differed across geographical regions: Africa (approximately 20%), Asia/Australia (approximately 15%), Central and South America (approximately 20%), North America (approximately 20%), Southern Europe/Middle East (approximately 15%), and Northern Europe (approximately 15%). Inconsistent trends in HPV prevalence by age were noted in older women, with a decrease or plateau of HPV prevalence in older ages in most studies, whereas others showed an increase of HPV prevalence in older ages. Similar trends of HPV 16 and/or 18 prevalence by age were noted among 12 populations with available data.

DISCUSSION

Genital HPV infection in women is predominantly acquired in adolescence, and peak prevalence in middle-aged women appears to differ across geographical regions. Worldwide variations in HPV prevalence across age appear to largely reflect differences in sexual behavior across geographical regions. Further studies of HPV prevalence in adolescents are needed for all geographic regions.

Very low human papillomavirus DNA prevalence in mature women with negative computer-imaged liquid-based Pap tests

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of high-risk Human Papillomavirus DNA (hrHPV DNA) in women with negative Papanicolaou (Pap) test results provides a measure of residual risk for cervical neoplasia after cytology screening. The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence of hrHPV DNA in several thousand women ages > or =30 years with negative ThinPrep Imaging System (TIS)-imaged Pap test results in a large academic hospital cytology laboratory.

METHODS

All cytology-negative TIS-imaged ThinPrep Pap tests (TPPT) with hrHPV DNA tests that were performed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) method from May 1, 2005 to November 20, 2006 were identified and reviewed. Imaged-negative Pap test slides associated with a positive hrHPV DNA test result were rescreened manually. Variation in hrHPV DNA prevalence was assessed for different age and ethnic groups.

RESULTS

Of 8070 imaged cytology-negative TPPT from women ages 11 to 90 years, hrHPV DNA test results were also available. Among 7426 women ages > or =30 years with a cytology-negative, TIS-imaged, Pap test, a significant age-associated decline in hrHPV DNA prevalence was noted, 3.4% in 3050 women ages 30-45 years, 2.4% in 7426 women ages 30-90 years, and 1.8% in 5491 women ages 40-90 years. The hrHPV DNA-positive rate was 2.3% in 6012 imaged cytology-negative white women and 4.1% in 739 imaged cytology-negative black women.

CONCLUSIONS

Very low HC2 hrHPV DNA rates in 7426 women ages > or =30 years with cytology-negative, TIS-imaged, ThinPrep, Pap tests were similar to recently published data from 1 other academic center and lower than rates reported in previous studies on cytology-negative North American or European women screened manually with conventional or liquid-based Pap tests. These data may impact assessments of how best to combine cytology and HPV testing.