Abstract:

Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics of and HPV subtypes in vulvar condyloma acuminatum （CA） and subclinical HPV infection. Methods Eighty patients with a positive acetowhite test and suspected subclinical HPV infection were selected from 272 patients with typical CA lesions in perianal and external genital region. Tissue specimens were obtained from typical CA and suspected subclinical HPV-infected lesions followed by pathological examination and HPV-DNA detection. Finally, 71 patients were confirmed to suffer from both CA and subclinical HPV infection. A comparative analysis was performed to assess the differences in histopathological manifestation and HPV genotypes between CA and subclinical infection lesions. Results Pathological examination revealed typical histological changes of CA in 71 （88.75%） typical CA specimens and 4 （5%） suspected subclinical infection specimens, as well as squamous dysplasia in 9（11.25%） CA specimens and 71 （88.75%） suspected subclinical infection specimens. HPV-DNA was positive in all （80） of the CA specimens and 93.75% （75） of the suspected subclinical infection specimens, negative in 5 （6.25%） suspected subclinical infection specimens. Obvious differences were observed in pathological manifestation, koilocyte number （P < 0.05）, but not in the distribution of HPV subtypes （P > 0.05）, between typical CA and concurrent subclinical HPV infection lesions in patients. Conclusion The diagnosis of subclinical HPV infection should be based on the result of acetowhite test, with the results of pathological examination and HPV DNA detection as an adjuvant.

Key words: HPV types