Human papilloma virus findings in the perimeter of vulvo-vaginal malignancies.

During recent years demonstration of human papilloma virus (HPV) in cancers of the lower female genital tract has led to the assumption, that these viruses may be associated with the pathogenesis of these tumors. This theory is particularly important for patients with intraepithelial lesions of the cervix, vagina and vulva, vulvar dystrophies and condylomata acuminata of the vulva and vagina, which are seen in the dysplasia clinic of our hospital. Using the in situ hybridization technique HPV 6/11 was detected in 13.7% and HPV 16/18 in 21.9% among the patients with mild or moderate dysplasia of the cervix. 15% of women in an age-matched control group proved to harbour HPV 6/11 and/or 16/18. In 127 female prostitutes, generally regarded as a high risk group for developing cervical cancer we found in approximately 8% positive HPV-results only. Patients with intraepithelial neoplasias of the cervix or the vulva frequently showed positive virus results in the corresponding organ. There was no significant difference in virus findings among patients with VIN and Bowenoid papulosis of the vulva. 59% of the male partner of 45 patients with positive HPV results from the vagina showed penile lesions in "colposcopy" after exposure to 3% acetic acid. Under the current conditions we regard the proven presence of HPV as an indicator of an increased risk of developing neoplasias of the lower female genital tract.