Human papilloma virus infection of the cervix uteri: observations in clinical private practice in Barbados - abstract

ABSTRACT

This study of female private patients was to determine the prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection, diagnosed on the basis of changes in cervical smears. From January 1986 to July 1988, 14,891 cervical smears were classified by numerical and descriptive systems, and 505 (3.4 per cent) smears had cytological changes of condyloma. Six cases were excluded because their ages were not known. Of the remaining 499 cases, 385 (77 per cent) were diagnosed as class II, 105 (21 per cent) as class III, and 216 (43 per cent) had bunch biopsies and/or endocervical curettage, 34 per cent of class II and 79 per cent of class III. Of those biopsied, 106 (49 per cent) had histological evidence of condyloma (condyloma only, 31 per cent; condyloma and CIN, 18 per cent). Of the 110 (51 per cent) biopsied cases with no histological evidence of condyloma, 16 per cent had evidence of dysplasia and 0.5 per cent frankly invasive carcinoma. Eighty-five per cent of condylomata occurred in the 20-39-year age group. Condyloma with coexisting dysplasia and dysplasia only had a peak frequency in the 20-29-year age group. The frequency of dysplasia in patients with previous class II smears was 19 per cent and 42 per cent of class III smears had no dysplasia but condyloma. Because of the foregoing, patients with a smear diagnosis of class I and cytological changes associated with HPV infection require more intensive follow up (AU)