[Human papillomavirus infections and carcinoembryonic antigen expression in cervix intra-epithelial neoplasia of intermediate grade].

The objective was to investigate a possible correlation between expression of carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in moderate cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II). We examined the correlation of the incidence in different cases and the topographical correspondence. CEA was detected by immunohistochemistry and HPV infection was diagnosed by in situ hybridization (including typing of 6/11, 16/18, 31/33) and well-established histologic criteria. Samples from 32 women were examined. In 29 cases (91%) CEA was expressed, mainly in the superficial layer of the epithelium. Twenty-three tissue samples (72%) showed HPV infection. There was topographical correspondence of the two markers (mainly in superficial cell layers) but no correlation concerning the incidence of HPV infection or particular HPV subtypes. The highest prevalence of HPV was found in dysplasias of the large-cell reserve cell type.