Carcinoma in situ of the vulva. The search for viral particles

Biopsy specimens taken from eight women with squamous-cell carcinoma in situ of the vulva were studied with transmission electron microscopy for the presence of viral particles. In one of the specimens a 150-nm-diameter viruslike particle was found. The exact nature of this particle was not clear, but it could have represented an immature herpesvirus particle. In seven specimens no evidence of viral particles was detected. These findings provide further evidence that the positivity of vulvar carcinoma in situ for herpesvirus antigen is not due to the presence of whole virus particles.