Low prevalence of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in cervical adenocarcinoma in situ, invasive adenocarcinoma, and glandular dysplasia by polymerase chain reaction.

Using the polymerase chain reaction on paraffin blocks for human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, a positive result was seen in three of 20 cases of invasive adenocarcinoma, 15 of 36 cases of adenocarcinoma in-situ, and one of five cases of glandular dysplasia of the uterine cervix. Types 16 and 18 were found with equal frequency. In adenocarcinoma in situ there was no age difference between HPV-positive and or HPV-negative cases. Concomitant squamous dysplasia was slightly more frequent in HPV-positive adenocarcinoma in-situ. HPV positivity rates are lower than most of those previously reported. Possible reasons for this are discussed.