Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18/45 Genotyping-Directed Follow-up of Women With Messenger RNA HPV-Positive, Cytology-Negative Cervical Screening Test Results

Chengquan Zhao

Abstract

Objectives

In this study, we sought to correlate genotype test results for human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, and 45 with histopathologic follow-up diagnoses in patients with messenger RNA (mRNA) high-risk HPV-positive, cytology-negative results.

Methods

We identified 1,157 patients with mRNA HPV-positive, cytology-negative cervical screening test results between June 2015 and June 2018. Reflex HPV 16/18/45 genotype results were documented in 1,018 women aged 30 years or older, 318 of whom had follow-up within 18 months.

Results

Histopathologic findings of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or worse (CIN2+) were diagnosed in 14 of 122 (11.5%) patients positive for HPV 16/18/45 vs in seven of 196 (3.6%) HPV 16/18/45–negative patients. Three patients with high-risk HPV–positive, cytology-negative cervical screening test results were diagnosed with stage I cervical adenocarcinomas following early colposcopic referral and biopsy after HPV 16/18/45–positive genotype results.

Conclusions

Immediate reflex HPV 16/18/45 genotyping of mRNA HPV-positive, cytology-negative patients led to early colposcopic referral and histopathologic diagnoses of three difficult-to-detect, low-stage, cervical adenocarcinomas and significantly increased overall early detection of CIN2+ lesions.