[Diagnosis of human papillomavirus infections in cervical cytology in the absence of classical signs].

"Nonclassic" cytologic signs (NCS) of infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) were analyzed in two groups of patients: A: (condylomata) 81 women with both condylomata confirmed by biopsy and a cervical smear not showing the "classic" signs of HPV infection, and B: (controls) 50 cervical smears diagnosed as negative. In group A, 96% showed nuclear hyperchromatism, 78% showed perinuclear halos, 77% showed clear cytoplasm, and 74% showed mild koilocytosis. In 89% of the condylomata cases at least four NCS were found. In the control group only three cases showed nuclear hyperchromatism; the most frequent NCS in this group was perinuclear halo (50%). The frequency in which NCS of condylomata are found in smears without the classic signs is high. Nevertheless, 11% of these showed less than four NCS; in all of them, nuclear hyperchromatism was prominent. This is the most useful NCS in the diagnosis of HPV infection.