Association of multiple human papillomavirus types with vulvar neoplasias.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to clarify the association of multiple genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types with vulvar neoplasias.

METHODS

We examined vulvar neoplasias by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, which can detect almost all genital HPV types sensitively (L1-PCR).

RESULTS

Eight HPV types (types 6, 11, 16, 18, 52, 53, 56, and 68) were detected in 52 of 53 (98.1%) vulvar condylomas; 2 HPV types (types 16 and 18) were detected in all 6 Grade-3 vulvar intraepithelial neoplasias; and 5 HPV types (types 6, 16, 18, 51, and 56) were detected in 8 of 11 (72.7%) invasive vulvar carcinomas. Detection of HPV types 52, 53, 56, and 68 in vulvar condylomas and detection of HPV types 51 and 56 in vulvar carcinomas are the first examples ever reported.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that more HPV types are associated with the generation of vulvar neoplasias than was thought to be the case up to now.