The changing concepts of condyloma. A retrospective study of colposcopically directed cervical biopsies

Human papillomavirus has been implicated in the etiology of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. A retrospective audit was conducted on all colposcopically directed biopsies performed from June through November, inclusive, in the years 1980 and 1982, a total of 317 cases. In 1980, the misdiagnosis rate for condyloma was 88.9% (69 of 78) and, in 1982, the misdiagnosis rate was reduced to 28.5% (40 of 140). On review, the association of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with condyloma was 73% (107 of 146), p less than 0.005. The differences in mean ages of patients with condyloma alone, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with condyloma, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia alone were significant, p less than 0.02. When condyloma is not recognized, the pathologist tends to overdiagnose grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia as shown in 28 original cases; 16 of 28 (57.1%) were condyloma alone on review. Fifteen (53.6%) of these 28 patients underwent a cone biopsy or hysterectomy when a less radical procedure would have been acceptable. The morphologic changes indicating cervical condyloma were not fully appreciated by the pathologist, and this resulted in overdiagnosis and later overtreatment by the gynecologist.