MANAGEMENT OF LOW-GRADE CIN - FOLLOW-UP OR TREATMENT

Objective: To examine whether low-grade cervical dysplasia carries a h igher risk of progression when associated with the cancer-related huma n papillomavirus types 16, 18, 31 or 33. Study design. Retrospective, with PCR-based HPV diagnosis on the original cervical biopsies from 71 patients with CIN I and II. CIN III developed in 34 lesions, and 37 s howed complete regression during non-invasive follow-up. Results: Prog ression occurred in 15/41 CIN I and in 19/30 CIN II lesions (P = 0.03) . HPV DNA was detected in 43 specimens. CIN III developed in 25% of HP V-negative lesions, in 48% of HPV-positive CIN I lesions, and in 77% o f HPV-positive CIN II lesions. Conclusion: Low-grade lesions are at hi gher risk of progression when associated with HPV types 16, 18, 31 or 33 (P = 0.002). HPV diagnosis can be useful in the triage of patients with low-grade CIN.