Penile intraepithelial neoplasia. Specific clinical features correlate with histologic and virologic findings

To evaluate the existence of the morphologic features specific for penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), 1000 male sexual partners of women with genital condyloma or intraepithelial neoplasia were studied.

Ninety-two patients who presented with lesions suggesting intraepithelial neoplasia (pigmented or leukoplastic papules, keratinized condylomata, or erythroplastic macules) underwent biopsy for histologic and virologic studies.

Histologic results showed penile intraepithelial neoplasia in 93% of the specimens. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA from potentially oncogenic papillomaviruses was detected in 75% of patients with Grade I PIN, in 93% of patients with Grade II PIN, and in all patients with Grade III PIN: Uncircumcised and circumcised men showed the same rate (52% vs. 45%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.73) of HPV-associated lesions, whereas the rate of PIN was significantly higher in uncircumcised men than in circumcised men (10% vs. 6%; OR = 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.07). The mean age of patients with Grade III PIN was 7 years older then the mean age of patients with Grade I PIN, which suggests a step progression similar to that of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Morphology seems to be a specific-enough indicator of PIN. More data are needed to determine whether treatment of PIN may contribute to preventing cervical or penile cancer. If so, the morphologic criteria here described will be clinically useful.