Human papillomavirus (HPV) in Egyptian females: study by cytology, histopathology, colposcopy and molecular diagnosis of high risk types.

OBJECTIVES In Northern Africa, the region Egypt belongs to, about 10.7% of women are estimated to harbour cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and 78.4% of invasive cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18. We aimed at comparing HPV detection by ISH-PCR tissue with other conventional available cheaper techniques, finding which of them can be relied upon in a developing country like Egypt for HPV detection. METHODS Sixty patients were included. For them colposcopy, PAP smear, histopathology and detection of HPV using ISH PCR tissue and PCR swab were achieved. RESULTS PCR-ISH tissue was positive in 53.33%, 46.6% were negative. Pap smear was negative in 26 cases (43.33%) and 43 cases (56.67%) were positive. LSIL with perinuclear halo represented nearly half of the positive cases (16/34; 47.05%), 10 cases were diagnosed as HSIL, 4 cases as ASCUS and 4 as AGC. Histopathology was negative in 12 (20%) cases and 48 (80%) cases were positive. CIN I and CIN I+ koliocytosis represented half of the cases (30/60) and more than half of positive cases (30/48; 62.5%). Comparing the results of pap smear, histopathology, colposcopy and PCR swab with ISH PCR tissue, highly significant results were seen with sensitivity of 87.5%, 100%, 62.5% and 56.2% respectively but the specificity were 78.6%, 42.9%, 28.6% and 100% respectively. CONCLUSION Conventional cytology and histopathology were sensitive tests for detection of HPV. This may help for early detection of cancer cervix in a developing country like Egypt. PCR swab showed the highest specificity and the lowest sensitivity.