Pathology of the cervix

Over the last year, the majority of research on the pathology of the cervix has been focused on the human papillomavirus (HPV) and its role in the pathogenesis of cervical neoplasia. Several major points emerged from these studies. First, the incidence of latent HPV infection in the general population is greater than previously thought. Up to 31% of a college-aged population has HPV DNA detected in cervical swabs. Second, in situ hybridization to detect HPV has been found to be a useful quality control measure for laboratories diagnosing cervical lesions. Finally, it is now recognized that many different HPV types can infect the cervix and be associated with cervical neoplasia. With regard to treatment, the introduction of loop electrosurgical excision procedures for treating cervical intraepithelial neoplasia lesions promises to have a significant impact on the management of cervical disease.