Histological distribution of polymerase chain reaction--amplified human papillomavirus 6 and 11 DNA in penile lesions.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the histological pattern of distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 and 11 DNA in penile lesions by in situ hybridization after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HPV DNA was routinely detected by in situ hybridization with or without PCR amplification in granular layer cells that showed perinuclear halos and nuclear atypia. Cells that lack these histological features rarely exhibited HPV DNA with conventional in situ hybridization. However, after PCR amplification, in situ analysis showed that many of the cells that lacked halos and atypia contained HPV DNA. The hybridization signal often localized to crevices in the epithelium where there was relative hyperkeratosis and a thickened granular layer. HPV DNA was not noted in the basal cells and was rarely identified in other parts of the lesion. It is concluded that penile tissues may contain HPV DNA when lacking the diagnostic features of a condyloma/low-grade intraepithelial lesions and that such tissues usually demonstrate specific histological changes characterized by a focally thickened granular layer often associated with epithelial crevices.