Hui Y, Hansen K, Murthy J, Chau D, Sung CJ, Quddus MR. Relevance of the Pap Test: A Report of HPV-DNA Test-Negative High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Female Lower Genital Tract.
Acta Cytol 2016;
60:445-450. [PMID:
27578366 DOI:
10.1159/000448470]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
A vast majority of cervicovaginal intraepithelial lesions are caused by high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs). The Pap test has been the sole method used for the screening of cervicovaginal squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL). Recently, the FDA approved an HPV-DNA assay as a method of primary screening. We report on a series of FDA-approved HPV-DNA test-negative SIL with HPV genotyping, using an alternative method on the corresponding surgical biopsy specimens.
STUDY DESIGN
A retrospective review identified cytology-positive HPV-negative cases over a 15-month period at a tertiary care gynecologic oncology institution. Corresponding biopsies were reviewed and genotyped for high-risk HPVs.
RESULTS
Of the 18,200 total cases, 17 patients meeting the study criteria were selected with 27 surgical specimens corresponding to their cytologic diagnoses. Four patients with high-grade lesions were identified, 3 of whom (75%) were positive for HPV. One of these 4 patients (25%) showed high-grade SIL on biopsies from 4 separate sites in the cervix and vagina. Multiviral HPV infections were frequent.
CONCLUSIONS
We discuss the relevance of cotesting for screening cervical SILs and emphasize that false-negative results are possible with the FDA-approved HPV screening assay, also in patients with high-grade SIL. These cases may be detectable by cytologic examination and this suggests that the Pap test remains an important diagnostic tool.
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