Different human papillomavirus genotypes in ano-genital lesions

In order to verify the frequency and physical state of some viral strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in anogenital lesions, two-hundred and four specimens were studied. HPV/DNA was detected by using non isotopic in situ hybridization method. HPV-DNA was found in 25 lesions. The integrated pattern of HPV types 16/18 was found only in invasive carcinomas, the episomic one in all high risk lesions, never in invasive carcinomas. The low oncogenic risk genotypes 6/11 were detected only in condylomata acuminata, the high oncogenic risk genotypes 16/18 were found not only in cervical intraepithelial and invasive lesions, but also in a condyloma acuminatum. Our findings confirm the importance of the viral genotypes in the evaluation of the risk for malignancy. Therefore, the detection of a high risk viral genotype, independently of its physical state, can evoke the ghost of the malignancy also in a low risk cervical lesion.