PREVALENCE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS DNA IN CERVICAL TISSUE - RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 855 CERVICAL BIOPSIES

The histopathologic features of 855 cervical biopsies were correlated with the presence of human papillomavirus DNA using in situ hybridizat ion (ISH) with biotin labeled type specific probes for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33 and 51. HPV-DNA was found in 18% (13/72) of cervical intra-eptihelial neoplasia I (CIN I), 30% (35/ 115) of CIN II, 28% (57(206) of CIN III, in 84% (21/25) of flat condyl oma and in 13% (15/112) of normal cervical tissue. HPV DNA was detecta ble in 11% (5/46) of cervical adenocarcinoma and in 21% (59/279) of sq uamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix. High risk HPV types were id entified more often than low risk HPV types in CIN I, CIN II, CIN III and SCC. HPV type 16/18 predominates over HPV type 31/33/51 in CIN I, flat condyloma and in SCC. The prevalence of HPV was strongly associat ed with the grade of differentiation of SCC. It was identified in 59% (23/39) of well differentiated SCC, in 18% (25/142) of moderately diff erentiated and in 11% (11/98) of poorly differentiated SCC.