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Updated: May 24, 2026
RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
Type-specific human papillomavirus DNA detected in atypical glandular cell Pap tests
Elie Mulhem1, Mitual Amin, Jonathan Copeland
1Department of Family Medicine and Department of Anatomic Pathology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI 48314, USA. emulhem@beaumont.edu
Objectives:
To evaluate the presence of type-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in atypical glandular cells (AGCs) from cervical liquid-based cytology and to report the relationship between HPV types and cervical histological abnormalities.
Study Design:
We used a nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay to test AGC Papanicolaou (Pap) tests for the presence of 14 high-risk (HR) HPV types.
Results:
HR HPV types were detected in 33 of 161 AGC Pap tests (20.3%). Types 16 and/or 18 were detected in 13 samples (8%). Eight other HPV types were detected in 1-4 samples each. HPV-associated disease was diagnosed in 8 AGC cases (8%) with available histology results. The sensitivity and specificity of the HR HPV test were 87.5 and 90%, respectively, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 99%. For a test that can isolate HPV types 16 and 18, the sensitivity and specificity were 62.5 and 100%, respectively, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 100% and the NPV was 97%.
Conclusion:
HPV 16 and 18 were the most common types detected in AGC Paps. We found high specificity, PPV and NPV with a test that can isolate these 2 HPV types. These results indicate a possible role for type-specific HPV testing in the management of AGC Pap tests.
