[Diagnosis between condyloma acuminatum and pseudocondyloma in lower female genital tract as determined by a PCR-based method].

From Jan. 1990-Aug. 1992, 616 patients with papillomatous growth of the lower female genital tract (the nodular type 307 cases, the papular type 309 cases) were investigated as determined by a PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based method, associated with immunohistochemistry avidin biotin complex (ABC), electron microscopy, histopathology, colposcopy and clinical follow-up. The PCR is the most sensitive and specific method. Using PCR the HPV DNA 6.11.16.18.33 were positive in 97.90% of the nodular type. However HPV DNA were positive in 1.10% of the papular type. In the patients with both type, HPV DNA were also positive in nodular, but negative in papular. In the nodular type the HPV-Ag present in 53.55% by ABC method, the koilocytes were 70.49% by microscopy, HPV particles were seen in 5 out of 85 samples by electron microscopy. So that the nodular type (typical cauliflower like) is genital warts (condyloma acuminatum) by HPV infection. The papular type (typical papular or finger like) growth on the mucosal surface of the labia minora of lower vagina. They were negative for HPV DNA, HPV-Ag, HPV particles and koilocytes. On follow-up observation for 3 months to 2 years they had not developed to nodular type and no sexually transmitted feature was observed. The papular type is pseudocondyloma.