Results of detection, typing and quantification of human papillomavirus by PCR in the practice of liquid cytology in postmenopausal women

The paper analyzes the possibilities of detecting, typing and quantifying human papillomavirus (HPV) by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the material of the preservative solution of the CellPrep Pap test in comparison with the results of cytological and histological studies. For patientswith histologically verified HSIL (high degree of squamous intraepithelial lesion), the highest prevalence (100%) of any carcinogenic HPV type was confirmed: HPV HR 16 and 33 with a clinically significant load dominated. In the case of HPV-associated endocervical adenocarcinoma, HPV type 18 was confirmed with significant viral load. With regard to the false-positive cytological conclusions about LSIL (low degree of squamous intraepithelial lesion, n = 4) and HSIL (high degree of squamous intraepithelial lesion, n = 1), the sensitivity of the cytological study was 87.50%. At the threshold of LSIL, positivity for histologically confirmed changes in HSIL+, considering false positive conclusions about the presence of HPV in the case of a benign process (n= 10), the sensitivity of HPV DNA testing was 88.24%, which is better than the results of the cytological study of the Pap test. Deeper evaluation of reflex testing capabilities for HPV- unassociated endocervical adenocarcinomas is required.