A Retrospective Study of Cytology, High-Risk HPV, and Colposcopy Results of Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia Patients

Value of high‑risk human papillomavirus detection combined with colposcopy in the diagnosis of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions

In the present study, the diagnostic value of high risk-human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) combined with colposcopy for the detection of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions was evaluated. A total of 397 patients with confirmed cervical disease were enrolled between August 2020 and December 2021. According to the pathological diagnosis, the patients were divided into cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade I (CIN I; n=153 cases), CIN II (n=101 cases), CIN III (n=86 cases) and cervical cancer (n=57 cases) groups. The HR-HPV-positive rate of the patients with different lesion types was compared, and the consistency of colposcopy and pathological examination results were assessed. For cervical cancer and precancerous lesions, the diagnostic value and efficacy of HR-HPV testing, colposcopy and combined HR-HPV testing and colposcopy examination were compared using pathological examination results as the gold standard. The results of the present study demonstrated that in patients with cervical cancer, the positive rate of HR-HPV (100.00%; n=57/57) was higher than that in patients with precancerous lesions, and the positive rate of HR-HPV in patients with CIN I type (36.60%, n=56/153) was lower than that in patients with CIN II (83.17%, n=84/101) and CIN III (82.56%, n=71/86) types (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the HR-HPV-positive rate between patients with CIN II and CIN III (P>0.05). Cohen's κ coefficient for colposcopy examination and pathological examination of patients with cervical cancer and precancerous lesions was 0.622, the diagnostic accuracy was 90.43% (n=359/397), the positive predictive value was 65.57% (n=40/61), and the negative predictive value was 94.94% (n=319/336). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the area under the curve of the combined examination in the diagnosis of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions was 0.904, which was higher than that of colposcopy (0.820) or HR-HPV testing (0.802) alone (P<0.05). The results of the present study indicated that HR-HPV detection combined with colposcopy has diagnostic value for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions.

A single-institutional retrospective analysis of factors related to vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

BACKGROUND

To date, few studies on the factors related to vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) have been published. In this study, we aimed to analyze the features of VaIN and identify underlying risk factors.

METHODS

Patients with VaIN or vaginitis histologically confirmed at the Industrial Street Branch of Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital from July 2020 to December 2021 were included. We statistically analyzed their baseline clinical characteristics, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection status, cytology results, and pathology results. Categorical indicators were analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. Differences were considered to be statistically different with p < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 62 patients with VaIN (mean age: 39.06 ± 11.66 years) and 32 with vaginitis (mean age: 41.13 ± 13.43 years) were included. Synchronous cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was histologically identified in 46 (74.2%) patients with VaIN and 7 (21.9%) with vaginitis (p < 0.001). Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) were the most frequent cytological abnormalities in both groups. Patients with VaIN only (62.5%) were more likely to be negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy than patients with synchronous CIN (32.6%; p = 0.036). No statistically significant difference in HPV infection was noted between patients with VaIN and those with vaginitis (p = 0.439). The most prevalent HPV genotype in patients with VaIN or vaginitis was HPV16, whereas both HPV58 and HPV16 were the most common in patients with concurrent CIN.

CONCLUSIONS

Attention should be paid to HPV16- and HPV58-positive patients with cytological abnormalities such as ASC-US and LSILs (especially with synchronous CIN) to avoid misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis and to facilitate early interventions for VaIN.

Cytology and HPV Co-Testing for Detection of Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia: A Retrospective Study

(1) Background: Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) is a rare premalignant disease caused by persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Diagnosing VaIN is challenging; abnormal cytology and positive HPV tests are usually the first signs, but published data on their accuracy for detecting it are rare and contradictory. The aim of this study is to compare the results of hrHPV and cytology co-testing with the histological findings of the vagina. (2) Methods: In the certified Dysplasia Unit at Erlangen University Hospital, cytology and HPV samples from the uterine cervix or vaginal wall after hysterectomy were obtained between 2015 and 2023 and correlated with histological findings in biopsies from the vaginal wall. Women without vaginal biopsy findings or concomitant cervical disease were excluded. (3) Results: In all, 279 colposcopies in 209 women were included. The histological results were: benign (n = 86), VaIN I/vLSIL (n = 116), VaIN II/vHSIL (n = 41), VaIN III/vHSIL (n = 33), and carcinoma (n = 3). Accuracy for detecting VaIN was higher in women with previous hysterectomies. Positive HPV testing during colposcopy increased the likelihood for VaIN II/III/vHSIL threefold. The detection rate for VaIN III/vHSIL was 50% after hysterectomy and 36.4% without hysterectomy. (4) Conclusions: Women with risk factors for VaIN, including HPV-16 infection or prior HPV-related disease, need careful work-up of the entire vaginal wall. Hysterectomy for HPV-related disease and a history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) also increased the risk for VaIN II/III/vHSIL.

The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD), and the European Federation for Colposcopy (EFC) consensus statement on the management of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD), and the European Federation for Colposcopy (EFC) developed consensus statements on pre-invasive vulvar lesions in order to improve the quality of care for patients with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN). The management of VaIN varies according to the grade of the lesion: VaIN 1 (low grade vaginal squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL)) can be subjected to follow-up, while VaIN 2-3 (high-grade vaginal SIL) should be treated. Treatment needs individualization according to the patient's characteristics, disease extension and previous therapeutic procedures. Surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment and should be performed if invasion cannot be excluded. Total vaginectomy is used only in highly selected cases of extensive and persistent disease. Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser may be used as both an ablation method and an excisional one. Reported cure rates after laser excision and laser ablation are similar. Topical agents are useful for persistent, multifocal lesions or for patients who cannot undergo surgical treatment. Imiquimod was associated with the lowest recurrence rate, highest human papillomavirus (HPV) clearance, and can be considered the best topical approach. Trichloroacetic acid and 5-fluorouracil are historical options and should be discouraged. For VaIN after hysterectomy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3, laser vaporization and topical agents are not the best options, since they cannot reach epithelium buried in the vaginal scar. In these cases surgical options are preferable. Brachytherapy has a high overall success rate but due to late side effects should be reserved for poor surgical candidates, having multifocal disease, and with failed prior treatments. VaIN tends to recur and ensuring patient adherence to close follow-up visits is of the utmost importance. The first evaluation should be performed at 6 months with cytology and an HPV test during 2 years and annually thereafter. The implementation of vaccination against HPV infection is expected to contribute to the prevention of VaIN and thus cancer of the vagina. The effects of treatment can have an impact on quality of life and result in psychological and psychosexual issues which should be addressed. Patients with VaIN need clear and up-to-date information on a range of treatment options including risks and benefits, as well as the need for follow-up and the risk of recurrence.

Comparative study of topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT) and surgery for the treatment of high-grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) and local surgical excision in the treatment of high-grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of a single center. Patients with biopsy-proven high-grade VAIN were counseled on the option of excision or ALA-PDT. After treatment patients were followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months and every 6 months afterwards. Clinical data of two groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were treated with ALA-PDT and 40 patients underwent excision surgery. The clinical characteristics of patients in the two groups were similar. The mean ages of patients treated with ALA-PDT and local surgical excision were 41.93+13.08 (18-70) and 43.25+11.64 (22-61) years old, respectively. The treatment times of PDT for patients in the ALA-PDT group were 5.48±1.41 (2-8) times. At 3-6 months after treatment, the overall complete remission (CR) rate was 93.33% (56/60) in PDT group and 82.5% (33/40) in local surgical excision group. In PDT group, a 12- and 24-month follow-up, the total HPV clearance rate was 68.97% and 77.55%, respectively. At 12-month and 2-year follow-up after local surgical excision, the total HPV clearance rate was 60% and 64.52%, respectively. Further analysis showed that the clinical efficacy was comparable between the two treatments. Patients over 45 years old exhibited a lower HPV clearance rate (P<0.05) than those under 45 years old. It was also observed that persistent HPV infection is a major risk factor for persistent disease. Further comparative analyses showed no significant difference in the CR rate and treatment times between VAINII and VAINIII in ALA-PDT group. Moreover, 4 patients (11.36%) developed recurrent lesions during follow-up after ALA-PDT, whereas 3 patients (8.33%) in the local excision group developed recurrent lesions. In addition, there was no significant difference in the recurrent rate between two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

ALA-PDT shows similar efficacy and less side effects compared to local surgical excision.

Screening History in Vaginal Precancer and Cancer: A Retrospective Study of 2131 Cases in China

Purpose

To examine the screening history of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) and vaginal cancer.

Patients and Methods

We included women with histologically confirmed VaIN or vaginal cancer by colposcopy-directed biopsy between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. The results of cytology, hrHPV, colposcopic examination and history of hysterectomy were retrospectively analysed.

Results

A total of 26,432 colposcopies were performed during the study period, among which 2131 women (1835 [86.1%] with VaIN 1; 268 [12.6%] with VaIN 2/3; and 28 [1.3%] with vaginal cancer) were retrospectively studied. hrHPV test positivity was significantly higher than that of cytology for VaIN 1 (84.4% vs 67.3%; P < 0.001) and VaIN 2/3 (92.0% vs 79.9%; P < 0.001) but not for vaginal cancer (84.6% vs 78.6%; P = 0.73). Additionally, the concordance rates for colposcopic impression were 79.5%, 54.5%, and 92.8% for VaIN1, VaIN2/3, and vaginal cancer, respectively. All 372 patients had a history of hysterectomy, and 81.0% (282/348) of indications were related to cervical precancer and cancer. Although cytology test positivity was significantly higher in patients with hysterectomy than in patients without hysterectomy (76.2% vs 67.5%; P < 0.001), cytology combined with hrHPV can help to detect more than 95% of VaIN and vaginal cancer cases in both groups (96.2% for patients with hysterectomy and 96.5% for patients without hysterectomy).

Conclusion

VaIN and vaginal cancer are not rare diseases. Although cytology was sensitive (67.5%-76.2%) for detecting vaginal lesions regardless of hysterectomy, cytology combined with hrHPV improves detection accuracy up to 95% in both groups.

A retrospective study of cytology and HPV genotypes results of 3229 vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia patients

To analyze the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype, cytology, and the clinical characteristics of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN). All patients with histological-proven VaIN at West China Second University Hospital, between January 1, 2014, and October 1, 2020, were retrospectively identified. The demographics, medical history, HPV genotype, viral load, and cytology results were retrieved. Standard statistical analyses were conducted. Of 3229 patients included, 42.3% were diagnosed with VaIN 1, 30.3% with VaIN 2% and 27.4% with VaIN 3. Patients with VaIN 3 were the oldest (p < 0.001). The leading HPV genotypes were HPV 16, 52, 58, 53, 56 and 81. The positive rate of HPV 16 was positively correlated with the grade of VaIN and infected most VaIN 3 patients (76.0%). The sensitivities of cytology for VaIN only, concomitant VaIN, and VaIN after hysterectomy were 75.6%, 78.8%, and 82.9%, respectively (p = 0.013), and the sensitivities of HPV were 91.1%, 93.5%, and 91.7%, respectively (p = 0.205). Cotesting improved the sensitivities, up to 96.9%, 97.1%, and 98.1%, respectively. VaIN can occur alone or be concomitant with cervical or vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Most of those with VaIN 2/3 are infected with HPV 16. The sensitivity of cytology and HPV testing is non-inferior to that of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+. Therefore, these testings might be helpful in the early detection of VaIN.

Occult vaginal cancer recurrence after hysterectomy: a case report and literature review

Vaginal cancer is a rare disease of the lower genital tract. We present the case of a 54-year-old woman with occult vaginal cancer after hysterectomy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III. Despite persistently negative cytology and colposcopy results, a lesion was finally detected by vagino-recto-abdominal examination and she underwent radical parametrectomy and lymph node dissection. We consider the possibility that transabdominal suturing of the vaginal cuff after hysterectomy may reduce the ability to detect subsequent vaginal lesions, and discuss the benefits of a vaginal suture approach. We recommend that suturing the vagina apex transvaginally instead of transabdominally would benefit patients during follow-up.

Application of 2011 International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy Terminology on the Detection of Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Purpose

To evaluate the colposcopic accuracy of the detection of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) according to the colposcopic terminology for the vagina from the 2011 International Federation of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC).

Methods

A total of 467 women who were suspected of having VaIN and underwent colposcopy at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from January to December 2018 were included in this retrospective cohort study. The 2011 IFCPC revised terminology for the vagina was applied, and the agreement between colposcopic diagnosis and vaginal biopsy pathology was analysed.

Results

Agreement between colposcopy and pathology was 69.16% (kappa=0.437, p<0.001), with 23.34% overestimated and 7.49% underestimated diagnosis for colposcopy. The agreement was the lowest (35.71%) in the high-grade VaIN group, which was significantly different from that of other lesion grade groups (p<0.01). Among grade 1 findings, thin acetowhite epithelium was the most frequent (80.51%). Grade 2 findings and vascular patterns were rare. The positive predictive values of the micropapillary pattern were 55.98% for low-grade VaIN and 5.98% for high-grade VaIN. The specificity of iodine negativity was 10.92% for low-grade VaIN and 8.30% for high-grade VaIN. There were significant differences in the maximum size of single lesions and in the number of lesions among different grade lesion groups.

Conclusion

The agreement between colposcopy findings utilizing the 2011 IFCPC terminology and vaginal pathology is moderate, and more definite findings for high-grade VaIN may be needed. The micropapillary pattern can be considered an alternative low-grade finding, while iodine staining is nonspecific for all lesions. Scattered and spotty lesions suggest low-grade VaIN, while large single lesions suggest high-grade VaIN.

Photodynamic therapy combined with carbon dioxide laser for low-grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia: A retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) combined with a carbon dioxide laser (CO₂ laser + PDT) versus CO₂ laser for the treatment of low-grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasms (vaginal LSIL).

METHODS

We recruited 40 patients with vaginal LSIL and persistent HR-HPV infection and divided these individuals into two groups. The CO₂ laser + PDT group (20 patients) received one CO₂ laser treatment and three treatments of ALA-PDT over a one-week interval. The CO₂ laser group (20 patients) received up to three CO₂ laser treatments. All patients were followed up at 1 month, 3 month, 6 month and 1 year. Hybrid capture HPV DNA assay and colposcopic biopsy were performed for both groups before treatment and during each of the follow-ups. Adverse effects were also assessed.

RESULTS

The complete remission (CR) rates were 65 % (13/20) in the CO₂ laser group and 85 % (17/20) in the CO₂ laser + PDT group (p > 0.05). HR-HPV remission rates were 25 % (5/20) in the CO₂ laser group and 95 % (19/20) in the CO₂ laser + PDT group (p < 0.05) at one year after treatment. In the CO₂ laser group, one patient experienced severe bleeding during treatment. Twelve patients had varying degrees of adhesions and vaginal scar stenosis. One patient underwent vaginal "dead angle" after repeated CO₂ laser treatment. No severe adverse events or systemic side effects were observed in the CO₂ + PDT group.

CONCLUSION

Topical ALA-PDT combined with CO₂ laser is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for vaginal LSIL and HR-HPV infections.

Importance of Colposcopy Impression in the Early Diagnosis of Posthysterectomy Vaginal Cancer

Supplemental digital content is available in the text.

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate the value of cytology, high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) status and colposcopy in the early diagnosis of vaginal cancer after hysterectomy.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective study was performed in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University. Posthysterectomy patients who were diagnosed with vaginal high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) by colposcopy-directed biopsy with colposcopy impression of extensive HSIL or suspicion of cancer and underwent upper or total vaginectomy from January 2009 to December 2017 were included.

Results

Eighty-six posthysterectomy vaginal HSIL patients were included. Available abnormal cytology and positive hrHPV were observed in 90.7% (49/54) and 96.2% (51/53) of the patients, respectively. A total of 18.6% (16/86) of the patients were diagnosed with squamous cell cancer by vaginectomy, and the average interval between hysterectomy and vaginectomy was 3.5 years. Among them, 62.5% (10/16) cancers occurred after hysterectomy for cervical cancer, 31.2% (5/16) after hysterectomy for cervical precancer, and 6.3% (1/16) after hysterectomy for myoma. An indication for hysterectomy (cervical cancer vs HSIL, odds ratio = 7.2, 95% CI = 1.9–28.0, p = .004) and colposcopy impression of vaginal cancer (vaginal cancer vs HSIL, odds ratio = 5.9, 95% CI = 1.3–26.8, p = .021) were high-risk factors of cancer confirmed by vaginectomy in colposcopy-directed biopsy vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 posthysterectomy in multiple logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions

Colposcopy is pivotal in the evaluation of abnormal cytology/hrHPV tests in follow-up of cervical cancer patients after hysterectomy and decision-making for vaginectomy in detecting early cancer.