Epidemiology of human papillomaviruses.

The inherent difficulties in the study of HPV infection have made the epidemiology of this common infection complex. The early natural history of HPV infection is similar for all genital and nongenital tissues. Genital HPV infection, however, especially cervical infection, is strongly linked to carcinoma. With the advent of molecular diagnosis of infection, and possible future serologic assays, the natural history of HPV-induced disease and its relationship to the development of invasive carcinoma can lead to more appropriate surveillance and treatment of patients at risk for progression.