[Human papillomaviruses in the epithelial cells of the cervix uteri: frequency of types 16 and 18. Preliminary results of a clinical, cytologic and viral study].

Between April 1 and June 30 1984, cervical scrapes were taken from 381 women attending the Gynecology Department of the Anticancer Center René-Huguenin. The scrapes were examined for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA, by a molecular hybridization method, at the Pasteur Institute. The four HPV types involved in genital pathology, HPV 6, HPV 11, HPV 16 and HPV 18, were studied. Twenty four specimens (6.3%) were found positive: 19 for HPV 16, 3 for HPV 18, 2 for HPV 6 or HPV 11. Results of molecular hybridization were compared with cytological findings. HPV 6 or HPV 11 were detected in cases of mild dysplasia. HPV 16 or HPV 18 were mainly detected in cases diagnosed as severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ (9 out of 14, i.e. 64.3%), and invasive carcinoma (3 out of 5 cases). The results were further confirmed when virological data obtained with cervical scrapes were compared with the histological diagnosis on biopsies: 14 out of 15 cases of severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ (93%) and 3 out of 6 cases of invasive squamous carcinoma had been found positive for HPV 16 or HPV 18. Interestingly, four "normal" women (1.3%) with a negative cytology were found positive for HPV 16 or HPV 18. The data obtained by this sensitive and reliable method are useful to the clinician to identify women presenting a high risk of subsequent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or invasive carcinoma, and, thus, to adapt the treatment and the follow-up of these patients.