The significance of human papilloma virus atypia ('wart virus infection') found alone on cervical cytology screening.

A series of 429 patients has been analysed in which the cytology smear report suggested human papillomavirus (HPV) infection alone. All patients were examined colposcopically and in 58 (13.6%) associated histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was demonstrated. CIN subsequently developed in an additional 10% of those patients who returned for follow-up over an ensuing 3-year period. Follow-up with repeat cervical cytology smears alone was unreliable as 4% of patients even with normal repeat smears has histologically proven CIN and a further 4% of these patients subsequently developed CIN. Colposcopy is recommended in all patients whose cytology smear shows HPV infection.