Significance of negative cervical cytology and positive HPV in the diagnosis of cervical lesions by colposcopy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of colposcopy in diagnosing cervical lesions when negative cervical cytology is combined with positive human papillomavirus (HPV).

METHODS

Overall, 370 patients with cervical epithelial lesions who had negative cervical fluid-based cytology combined with positive HPV results were selected and analysed for severity of cervical lesions and HPV distribution.

RESULTS

Among the patients with cervical lesions, 242 had a single HPV infection, and 128 cases had multiple infections. No significant difference was found between HPV single infection and multiple infections in both groups of patients with cervical lesions ( > 0.05). Furthermore, 137 had non-HPV 16 and 18, accounting for 37.30% of all the patients with cervical lesions. Among them, HPV 52, 58, and 33 infections were the most common at 38.69, 30.66 and 29.20%, respectively - significantly higher than other high-risk HPV types ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

High-risk HPV testing is crucial in patients with negative cervical fluid-based cytology combined with positive HPV results. Patients with HPV 16 and 18 and those with simple HPV 52, 58, and 33 infections should undergo timely colposcopy.