The Use of p 16 INK 4 a and In Situ Hybridization and Their Impact on the Healthy and Equivocal Pap Smears of the Cervix Year 2015

Throughout the past thirty years, the perception of cervical carcinoma has shifted from that of a mysteriously fatal disease, to one of the sexually transmitted, human papillomavirus (HPV) related infection. HPV DNA has been found in almost all cervical invasive and preinvasive cervical neoplasms. Conventional Pap smear, which was established in the early sixties reduced effectively the morbidity and mortality related to cervical cancer. Given the lower sensitivity of the Pap cytology test, new diagnostic parameters have been established. The histological features of preinvasive cervical neoplasia (CIN1, CIN2, and CIN3) are well understood. However, misinterpretation of the morphological criteria could lead to significant variability. The aim of this study is to identify women with equivocal and normal Pap smear who are at risk for developing cervical cancer through the use of p16INK4a immunostaining and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing using in situ hybridization (ISH). Materials and Methods In order to identify human papillomavirus infection in minor cytological and histological abnormalities, biopsies collected from 60 women 25-66 years of age with normal cervices and Pap smears (group I), abnormal cervices and Pap smears (group II) and with