Sexually transmitted papillomaviral infection in the male: II. The urethral reservoir

Urethral cytobrushing for hybridization studies was obtained from the anterior urethra of 75 male consorts of known HPV-infected female partners. Our findings revealed a 24 per cent (19 patients) incidence of positive hybridization, identifying HPV-16 or HPV-18 in six instances associated with mixed papillomaviral infection of the shaft and the presence of HPV-6 and HPV-11 in 7 cases clinically related to exophytic disease of the shaft. Although no histologic evidence of virus-tissue interaction could be demonstrated, careful follow-up is recommended to detect early recurrent disease with its potential for partner reinfection.