Cervical cancer--what role for human papillomavirus?

To review the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) as a causative agent of cancer of the cervix. DATA SOURCES, data synthesis, study selection: Medical journals, recently published text books related to cancer of the cervix and HPV and Papillomavirus Reports were examined to review the pathology of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions, its epidemiology in Australia and overseas, methods of detection of HPV (in particular molecular biology techniques used to diagnose HPV) and evidence linking HPV with genital neoplasia.

While there is compelling evidence strongly linking certain HPV types with genital cancer, a causative role is yet to be proven and the aetiology is most likely multifactorial. Detection and typing of high risk genotypes of HPV in the genital tract as a diagnostic exercise to identify those women most at risk of developing genital neoplasia is not currently recommended.