Immediate biopsy of cervical cytology-negative and non-HPV-16/18 oncogenic types positive patients

According to the American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP), a co-test is recommended for patients one year after the detection of non-HPV 16/18 viral types in association with a negative cervical cytology. In this study, we used immediate colposcopy to evaluate the risks to the patient during the one year waiting period.

We included 544 Hpv-positive/cervical cytology-negative patients who underwent cervical cancer screening from June 2015 to June 2017. Cytological specimens were classified using the Bethesta method on a liquid based preparation. We used the Hybrid Capture 2 system to define HPV DNA. Biopsies were performed on all patients under colposcopy.

Three hundred and seventy-five patients had HPV types 16/18 and 169 had non-HPV-16/18 oncogenic types. Of the 169 patients who had non-HPV-16/18 oncogenic types, 151 (89%) had no dysplasia, 16 (9.4%) had CIN 1, and 2 (1.1%) had CIN 2/CIN 3.

For the patients who had cervical cytology negative/non-HPV-16/18 positive, we detected that 1.1% of these women had CIN 2-3. For this reason, by chasing the algorithm recommended by guidelines, gynecologists take risk missing a diagnosis of CIN 2 plus lesion in 1.1% of patients.