Correlation between histological criteria and human papillomavirus presence based on PCR assay in cervical biopsies

Abstract

Although indicative, none of the studied morphological criteria was always related to PCR virus detection, denoting some limitations for histological diagnosis.

The probability for a Pap test to be abnormal is directly proportional to HPV viral load: results from a Swiss study comparing HPV testing and liquid-based cytology to detect cervical cancer precursors in 13 842 women

“…It is then hypothesised that infected cells are present on the slides but do not always show sufficient morphologic anomalies to be recognised. This concept is supported in the literature (Ward et al, 1990;Cramer et al, 1997;Salvia et al, 2004).…”

Correlation between koilocytes and human papillomavirus detection by PCR in oral and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma biopsies

“…It is considered a pathognomonic sign of HPV-associated lesions (Fornatora et al 1996). While some authors suggested an association between cytological and immunohistochemical positivity for HPV (Löning et al 1987), others found no morphological aspects that confirm the presence of HPV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Salvia et al 2004). Histopathological analysis under light microscopy is the most commonly used method for oral pathology diagnosis and it is a useful method for the observation of viral particles when molecular biology methods are not available.…”

“…A previous study that correlated histopathological findings in cervix carcinoma biopsies with PCR-based HPV detection reported that the most common aspects of HPV presence were koilocytosis (88.89%) and binucleation (75%). Although koilocytosis denotes an important morphological marker for HPV infection, it is not a precise basis for HPV diagnosis because it results in approximately 30% false-positives, which should be considered (Salvia et al 2004). In the present study, of 55 cases of negative PCR-based HPV detection, koilocytosis occurred in 19 cases (34.5%).…”

Human Papillomavirus and Related Diseases - From Bench to Bedside - A Clinical Perspective

“…The distinction of florid reactive changes, immature metaplastic patterns, and atrophic changes from HPVinduced alterations may cause difficulties. Attempts have been made to redefine the traditional criteria for lesion diagnosis, while other efforts aimed at the adoption of new, more objective methods, which might support the former (Bollmann et al, 2005;Cho et al, 2005;Guillaud et al, 2005;Prasad et al, 1994;Salvia et al, 2004;Scheurer et al, 2007). However, studies attempting to correlate HPV presence and replication to certain cytohistologic alterations are becoming less frequent and/or fruitful.…”