Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been associated with uterine cervical neoplasms and also squamous carcinomas in many other organs. The aim of this study is to use sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate the prevalence of different HPV genotypes in uterine cervical neoplasms in a district general hospital in Hong Kong. A total of 83 patients were retrieved from the surgical pathology archive from 1996-1997. This included 15 condylomas, 13 CIN 1, 18 CIN 2, 23 CIN 3 and 14 carcinomas. The mean and medium age of each group are: 37.7 and 41 (condyloma); 33.9 and 34.5 (CIN 1); 40.6 and 37 (CIN 2); 39.9 and 40 (CIN 3); 59.1 and 62 (carcinoma) respectively. PCR was performed on DNA extracted from routine formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material using firstly specific primers against HPV L1 gene, and then type specific primers against individual types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33. PCR using primers against (β-globin gene was used to ensure the quality of amplifiable DNA extracted. Low risk HPV types 6 and 11 were most prevalent in cervical condylomas (50%). Medium risk HPV types 31 and 33 were present in 18.8% (condyloma), 28.6% (CIN 1), 11.1% (CIN 2), 8.9% (CIN 3) and 21.4% (carcinoma). High risk HPV types 16 and 18 were present in 18.8% (condyloma), 42.9% (CIN 1), 44.4% (CIN 2), 60.9% (CIN 3), and 28.6% (carcinoma). HPV types with positivity to L1 gene but negative with common types were found to be present in 21.4% (CIN 1), 11.1% (CIN 2), 13% (CIN 3) and 21.4% (carcinoma). In summary, low risk HPV types 6 and 11 are more common in cervical condylomas. High and medium risk HPV types 16, 18, 31 and 33 occur in a significant proportion of cervical intraepithelial neoplasms in Hong Kong. A small percentage of CIN 3 and carcinoma cases may also involve HPV types other than those investigated in this study.