Role of human papillomavirus testing and cytology in follow-up after conization

HPV Test as Test of Cure After Conization for CIN2+: A Nationwide Register-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess if cytology can be omitted in the follow-up after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) and if human papillomavirus (HPV) test can be used alone as test of cure (TOC) after stratifying for resection margins.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this retrospective register-based study, women who had a conization performed in Denmark between January 1 and December 31, 2013, were included. Histology, cytology, and HPV test results were obtained from The Danish Pathology Data Bank for a 3-year follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 5,174 women were included, of whom 6.1% (318/5,174) had histological residual/recurrent disease in the follow-up period. In the group with free margins, 2.6% (73/2,780) had residual/recurrent disease in contrast to 10.2% (245/2,394) in the group with involved margins. In the group with free resection margins and negative HPV test results, residual/recurrent disease was found in 0.5% (13/2,780) compared with 0.3% (9/2,780) in the group with negative HPV test results and normal cytology at 6 months' follow-up. Based on margin status and HPV test result as follow-up, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 95.9%, 43.2%, 10.0%, and 99.4% respectively, and for combined testing (margin status, HPV, and cytology), 97.2%, 41.2%, 9.8%, and 99.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the HPV test at the first post-treatment control as TOC for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse after stratifying for resection margins in cone resections yields an equally high sensitivity and negative predictive value as cotesting with cytology. We suggest that women with free resection margins return to the routine screening program after negative HPV test result as TOC at 6 months.

Clearance of HR-HPV within one year after focused ultrasound or loop electrosurgical excision procedure in patients with HSIL under 30

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clearance rate of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in patients with a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) 12 months after focused ultrasound (FUS) or loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and analyze the influencing factors.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort was established in HSIL patients with HR-HPV infection treated with FUS or LEEP from 2015 to 2019. The cohort consisted of 321 patients under 30 years of age, of which 119 patients received FUS and 202 patients received LEEP. The Cox regression model was used to identify the influencing factors for HR-HPV clearance. Kaplan-Meier method was applied to estimate the efficacy of FUS and LEEP in HR-HPV clearance, and the log-rank test was used to compare the efficacy difference between FUS and LEEP.

RESULTS

Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that both FUS and LEEP were independent influencing factors for HR-HPV clearance. HR-HPV cleared faster in the FUS group than in the LEEP group [the median time to HR-HPV clearance: 6 months in the FUS group (95% CI: 5.492-6.508) and 6 months in the LEEP group (95% CI: 5.734-6.266), p = 0.021]. The HR-HPV clearance rates at 6 and 12 months were 54.6% and 94.1% respectively in the FUS group, and 50.5% and 79. 2%, respectively in the LEEP group (p = 0.001 at 6 months, p = 0.000 at 12 months).

CONCLUSIONS

For HPV-positive HSIL patients under 30, FUS had a better HR-HPV clearance effect than LEEP 1 year after treatment. FUS may be a viable modality for the treatment of young HSIL patients.

Risk of Recurrence After Treatment for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3 and Adenocarcinoma In Situ of the Cervix: Recurrence of CIN 3 and AIS of Cervix

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate recurrence risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3+ and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)+ in a large population cohort of women previously treated for CIN 3/AIS.

METHODS

Merging administrative databases with information on health services utilization and jurisdictional cancer registry, we identified all women undergoing treatment for CIN 3 or AIS from 2006 to 2010. Recurrence rate 1-5 years after treatment was defined as a biopsy finding of CIN 3/AIS or retreatment (loop electrosurgical excision procedure [LEEP], laser, cone, hysterectomy). Logistic regression was used to determine odds of recurrence.

RESULTS

A total of 15,177 women underwent treatment for CIN 3 (n = 14,668) and AIS (n = 509). The recurrence rate for 5 years was greater for AIS (9.0%) compared with CIN 3 (6.1%). In a multivariate analysis, increased risk of recurrence was shown for age older than 45 years (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1-1.6), AIS compared with CIN 3 (HR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.5-3.5) first cytology after treatment showing high grade (HR = 12.4, 95% CI = 9.7-15.7), and no normal Pap smears after treatment (HR = 2.8, 95% CI = 2.2-3.7). There was no difference in recurrence risk with treatment type (cone vs LEEP: HR = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.8-1.2, and laser vs LEEP: HR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.8-1.4) or number of procedures per year performed by physicians (<40 vs >40 procedures: HR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9-1.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Recurrence risk of CIN 3 and AIS is related to age, histology, and posttreatment cytology, which should assist with discharge planning from colposcopy. Definitive treatment with hysterectomy should be considered in women older than 45 years with additional risk factors for recurrence.

Follow-up After Loop Electrosurgical Excision of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: The Use of Combined Cytology and Human Papillomavirus Testing

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were to investigate how many women after 1 or 2 follow-up examinations, based on combined cervical cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, could finish posttreatment follow-up and continue with the general screening program and to determine the 5-year risk of recurrence in this group.

METHODS

This is a prospective observational study that includes women, who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) in the North Denmark Region, from January 1, 2012, to May 31, 2014. All included women had histologically verified diagnosis of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+) or adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) before LEEP and posttreatment follow-up with cervical cytology and HPV combination testing. Study period was until October 2019.

RESULTS

Totally, 563 women were included in the study. After finishing the posttreatment follow-up, 439 (78%) could continue to the general screening program and 362 of them had a screening during the study period. Six women (1.7%) had either cervical dysplasia and/or HPV infection in the cervical screening, and of these, 3 (0.8%) had high-grade dysplasia corresponding to CIN 2. None was diagnosed with CIN 3, AIS, or invasive carcinoma. One hundred twenty-one women (36%) chose to be screened sooner than recommended in the national guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

Human papillomavirus and cytology combination test after LEEP allows women, irrespective of margin status, safely to continue with the general screening program after a short posttreatment follow-up period. Improved information is mandatory to reduce "opportunistic" screening after finishing posttreatment follow-up.

A Systematic Review of Tests for Postcolposcopy and Posttreatment Surveillance

OBJECTIVE

For the 2019 ASCCP Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of diagnostic assays for postcolposcopy and posttreatment management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted to identify articles reporting on tests/assays for cervical cancer screening, triage, postcolposcopy surveillance, and posttreatment surveillance published between 2012 and 2019 in PubMed and Embase. Titles and abstracts were evaluated by co-authors for inclusion. Included articles underwent full-text review, data abstraction, and quality assessment. Pooled absolute pretest and posttest risk estimates were calculated for studies evaluating management of patients after treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 2,862 articles were identified through the search. Of 50 articles on postcolposcopy, 5 were included for data abstraction. Of 66 articles on posttreatment, 23 were included for data abstraction and were summarized in the meta-analysis. The pooled posttreatment risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ in all studies was 4.8% (95% CI = 3.4%-6.8%), ranging from 0.4%-19.5% (τ = 0.57) in individual studies. Among individuals testing negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) posttreatment, the risk of CIN 2+ was 0.69% (95% CI = 0.3%-1.5%); among individuals testing positive for HPV posttreatment, the risk of CIN 2+ was 18.3% (95% CI = 12.1%-26.6%) in all studies. All risk estimates were substantially higher for liquid-based cytology. The HPV-cytology co-testing provided slightly better reassurance compared with HPV alone at the cost of much higher positivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a large number of published studies on postcolposcopy and posttreatment surveillance, only few met criteria for abstraction and were included in the meta-analysis. More high-quality studies are needed to evaluate assays and approaches that can improve management of patients with abnormal screening.

Recurrent disease after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-The importance of a flawless definition of residual disease and length of follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate adherence to national guidelines for follow-up, and assess residual and recurrent disease after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+).

STUDY DESIGN

In a case-series design women aged 25-69 years treated for primary CIN2+ in 2006-2011 (n = 752) were followed through August 9, 2019 for residual or recurrent disease, i.e., CIN2+ diagnosed before or after, respectively, two consecutive, normal post-treatment cytology results. We used the Chi-Square test to assess predictive factors of adherence to post-treatment follow-up and residual disease, and survival analyses to assess the cumulative incidence of residual and recurrent disease.

RESULTS

Strict adherence to post-treatment follow-up was low . However, 702 (95 %) women attended at least one post-treatment follow-up visit within the suggested time window. Forty-two women (5.6%) were diagnosed with residual disease, 38 (91 %) of whom were diagnosed within 2 years of treatment. Among the 637 (85 %) women with two consecutive, normal post-treatment cytology results, cumulative incidence of recurrent disease was 1.0 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.2-1.8) and 2.5 (95 % CI: 1.2-3.8) per 100 women-years within 42 and 78 months of treatment, respectively. Three women with residual and two with recurrent disease were diagnosed with cervical cancer within 78 months of treatment. Women with not-free resection margins at treatment had a significantly increased risk of residual and recurrent disease. Using a 2-year definition for residual disease would misclassify 3 of 5 cancer cases as recurrent disease when they were true cases of residual disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasizes the importance of properly distinguishing between residual and recurrent disease after treatment for CIN2 + . Many women with residual disease could benefit from an earlier colposcopy, cervical biopsy, or diagnostic conization during post-treatment follow-up in order to detect occult cervical cancer. The cumulative incidence of recurrent disease within 78 months of treatment was low.

Incomplete excision of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia as a predictor of the risk of recurrent disease-a 16-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (grade 2 or 3) are at elevated risk for developing cervical cancer. Suggested factors identifying women at highest risk for recurrence post-therapeutically include incomplete lesion excision, lesion location, size and severity, older age, treatment modality, and presence of high-risk human papilloma virus after treatment. This question has been intensively investigated over decades, but there is still substantial debate as to which of these factors or combination of factors most accurately predict treatment failure.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we examine the long-term risk of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia among women previously treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 and how this varies according to margin status (considering also location), as well as comorbidity (conditions assumed to interact with high-risk human papilloma virus acquisition and/or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia progression), posttreatment presence of high-risk human papilloma virus, and other factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study included 991 women with histopathologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 who underwent conization in 2000-2007. Information on the primary histopathologic finding, treatment modality, comorbidity, age, and high-risk human papilloma virus status during follow-up, and residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was obtained from the Swedish National Cervical Screening Registry and medical records. Cumulative incidence of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was plotted on Kaplan-Meier curves, with determinants assessed by Cox regression.

RESULTS

During a median of 10 years and maximum of 16 years of follow-up, 111 patients were diagnosed with residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse. Women with positive/uncertain margins had a higher risk of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse than women with negative margins, adjusting for potential confounders (hazard ratio, 2.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.81-3.93). The risk of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse varied by anatomical localization of the margins (endocervical: hazard ratio, 2.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.67-4.41) and both endo- and ectocervical (hazard ratio, 4.98; 95% confidence interval, 2.85-8.71). The risk did not increase significantly when only ectocervical margins were positive or uncertain. The presence of comorbidity (autoimmune disease, human immunodeficiency viral infection, hepatitis B and/or C, malignancy, diabetes, genetic disorder, and/or organ transplant) was also a significant independent predictor of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse. In women with positive high-risk human papilloma virus findings during follow-up, the hazard ratio of positive/uncertain margins for recurrent/residual high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse increased significantly compared to that in women with positive high-risk human papilloma virus findings but negative margins.

CONCLUSION

Patients with incompletely excised cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 are at increased risk for residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse. Margin status combined with high-risk human papilloma virus results and consideration of comorbidity may increase the accuracy for predicting treatment failure.

Risk of Cervical Dysplasia After Colposcopy Care and Risk-Informed Return to Population-Based Screening: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examined the risk of cervical dysplasia among women who have undergone a colposcopy episode of care to inform their return to population-based cervical screening. PubMed, Embase, and grey literature were searched between January 2000 and 2018. One reviewer screened citations against pre-defined eligibility criteria. A second reviewer verified 10% and 100% of exclusions at title and abstract and at full-text screening, respectively. One reviewer extracted data and assessed methodological quality of included articles; a second reviewer verified these in full. The primary outcome was incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or greater (CIN2+) subsequent to initial colposcopy evaluation. Secondary outcomes included incidence of CIN2+ after negative follow-up test results and performance of follow-up strategies. Results were synthesized narratively. A total of 48 studies were included. The 1- to 5-year CIN2+ risks after colposcopy evaluation ranged from 2.4% to 16.5% among women treated for CIN2+ and from 0.7% to 16.8% among women untreated for CIN grade 1 or less (≤CIN1). Follow-up strategies included single or repeat cytology, human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, or combined HPV/cytology co-testing at various intervals. After negative follow-up test results, risk varied by follow-up strategy for both groups and by referral cytology severity for untreated women. Performance of follow-up strategies varied among treated women. Among untreated women, co-testing demonstrated greater sensitivity than cytology alone. In conclusion, women treated during colposcopy for CIN2+ and women with ≤CIN1 who were referred to colposcopy for low-grade cytology and who did not receive treatment may be able to return to population-based screening after negative co-testing results. Current evidence does not suggest that women untreated for ≤CIN1 who are referred for high-grade cytology be returned to screening at an average risk interval. The optimal strategy for colposcopy discharge needs ongoing evaluation as implementation of HPV testing evolves.

Role of HPV DNA, HPV mRNA and cytology in the follow-up of women treated for cervical dysplasia

The aim of this study was to assess the role of cytology, human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA and human papilloma virus messenger RNA (HPV mRNA) assays in detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2+ (CNi 2+) (recurrences/persistence) during the follow-up of women after treatment of cervical intraepithelial lesion. This cross-sectional study was performed among 43 women treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) between January 2014 and January 2017 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Spedali Civili's Hospital, Brescia, Italy. Pap smear and cervical samples for HPV tests were collected during the follow-up visit. Furthermore, colposcopy was always performed in order to find out the persistence/recurrence of the disease. A cervical biopsy was collected when necessary. Cervical samples obtained were tested for HPV DNA using the INNO-LiPa HPV assay and for HPV mRNA using the APTIMA assay. The mean age of enrolled women was 42.5 years. Among the treated patients, more than 50% of women revealed the absence of high risk HPV DNA and HPV mRNA. We found the persistence of the disease cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN 2) only in one woman. The sensitivity of cytology, HPV DNA and HPV mRNA in detecting disease was satisfactory (100%), while the specificity was quite different for the three tests: 64.2, 52.4 and 78.9%, respectively. The HPV mRNA test has higher specificity with respect to cytology and HPV DNA, avoiding the referral to unnecessary colposcopy with an improvement of costs/benefits for healthcare system. However, given the small size sample, this study should be considered as a pilot for future larger studies.

High-risk HPV detection and associated cervical lesions in a population of French menopausal women

BACKGROUND

With population ageing, post-menopausal women represent a new group to be considered in cervical cancer screening strategies, including the significance of High Risk (HR)-HPV detection.

OBJECTIVES

A retrospective analysis was conducted in a cohort of 406 menopausal women attending routine gynaecological consultation at the Hospital of Montpellier (France).

STUDY DESIGN

All women benefited from a cervical smear and HR-HPV detection using Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) test. The prevalence of cytological abnormalities, HR-HPV detection and risk factors associated with HR-HPV detection were analyzed. Evolution of both tests was evaluated in a sub-group of women with adequate follow-up.

RESULTS

Five women (1.2%) had an abnormal cervical smear at baseline. HR-HPV was detected in 40 women (9.9%), including 36 women with normal cytology (9%). Risk factors associated with HR-HPV detection at enrolment were a previous history of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and a high socio-economic level, but not hormone replacement therapy. When cytology and HR-HPV detection were negative at enrolment, both remained negative for 95% (230/241) of women during follow-up (median duration of follow-up: 60 months). HR-HPV persistence was observed for 55% (18/33) of women with normal cytology and positive HR-HPV test. Finally, all women with a final diagnosis of high-grade (CIN2+) cervical lesion (N = 7) had a positive HR-HPV test with or without abnormal cytology.

CONCLUSIONS

HR-HPV was detected in 9.9% of menopausal women. HR-HPV detection was a better predictor of CIN2+ lesions than cytology in this population. Women with previous CIN history should benefit from HR-HPV testing and need long term follow-up.

HPV-testing versus HPV-cytology co-testing to predict the outcome after conization

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing alone as a prognostic tool to predict recurrent disease within a three-year follow-up period after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2⁺ .

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospectively, 128 women with histologically verified CIN2⁺ who had a conization performed at Southern Jutland Hospital in Denmark between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 were included. Histology, cytology and HPV test results were obtained for a three-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

4.7% (6/128) of the cases developed recurrent disease during follow-up. Of the cases without free margins, recurrent dysplasia was detected normal in 10.4% (5/48), whereas in the group with free margins it was 1.3% (1/80). The post-conization HPV test was negative in 67.2% (86/128) and Pap smear normal in 93.7% (120/128). Combining resection margins, cytology and HPV had sensitivity for prediction of recurrent dysplasia of 100%. Specificity was 45.8%, positive predictive value (PPV) 8.5% and negative predictive value (NPV) 100%. Using HPV test alone as a predictor of recurrent dysplasia gave a sensitivity of 83.3%, specificity 69.7%, PPV 11.9% and NPV 98.8%. Combining resection margin and HPV test had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity 45.9%, PPV 8.3% and NPV 100%.

CONCLUSION

HPV test at six months control post-conization gave an NPV of 98.8% and can be used as a solitary test to identify women at risk for recurrent disease three years after treatment for precursor lesions. Using both resection margin and HPV test had a sensitivity of 100% and NPV 100%. Adding cytology did not increase the predictive value.

Incomplete excision of cervical precancer as a predictor of treatment failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Incomplete excision of cervical precancer is associated with therapeutic failure and is therefore considered as a quality indicator of clinical practice. Conversely, the risk of preterm birth is reported to correlate with size of cervical excision and therefore balancing the risk of adequate treatment with iatrogenic harm is challenging. We reviewed the literature with an aim to reveal whether incomplete excision, reflected by presence of precancerous tissue at the section margins, or post-treatment HPV testing are accurate predictors of treatment failure.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the risk of therapeutic failure associated with the histological status of the margins of the tissue excised to treat cervical precancer. We estimated the accuracy of the margin status to predict occurrence of residual or recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grade two or worse (CIN2+) and compared it with post-treatment high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. We searched for published systematic reviews and new references from PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL and did also a new search spanning the period Jan 1, 1975, until Feb 1, 2016. Studies were eligible if women underwent treatment by excision of a histologically confirmed CIN2+ lesion, with verification of presence or absence of CIN at the resection margins; were tested by cytology or HPV assay between 3 months and 9 months after treatment; and had subsequent follow-up of at least 18 months post-treatment including histological confirmation of the occurrence of CIN2+. Primary endpoints were the proportion of positive section margins and the occurrence of treatment failure associated with the marginal status, in which treatment failure was defined as occurrence of residual or recurrent CIN2+. Information about positive resection margins and subsequent treatment failure was pooled using procedures for meta-analysis of binomial data and analysed using random-effects models.

FINDINGS

97 studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis and included 44 446 women treated for cervical precancer. The proportion of positive margins was 23·1% (95% CI 20·4-25·9) overall and varied by treatment procedure (ranging from 17·8% [12·9-23·2] for laser conisation to 25·9% [22·3-29·6] for large loop excision of the transformation zone) and increased by the severity of the treated lesion. The overall risk of residual or recurrent CIN2+ was 6·6% (95% CI 4·9-8·4) and was increased with positive compared with negative resection margins (relative risk 4·8, 95% CI 3·2-7·2). The pooled sensitivity and specificity to predict residual or recurrent CIN2+ was 55·8% (95% CI 45·8-65·5) and 84·4% (79·5-88·4), respectively, for the margin status, and 91·0% (82·3-95·5) and 83·8% (77·7-88·7), respectively, for high-risk HPV testing. A negative high-risk HPV test post treatment was associated with a risk of CIN2+ of 0·8%, whereas this risk was 3·7% when margins were free.

INTERPRETATION

The risk of residual or recurrent CIN2+ is significantly greater with involved margins on excisional treatment; however, high-risk HPV post-treatment predicts treatment failure more accurately than margin status.

FUNDING

European Federation for Colposcopy and Institut national du Cancer (INCA).

HPV-based strategy in follow-up of patients treated for high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia: 5-year results in a public health surveillance setting

OBJECTIVE

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is used increasingly for measuring the outcome of treatment for high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN2+). However, there is no international consensus regarding the number of tests and follow-up visits necessary in the post-treatment surveillance. A negative HPV DNA test result may permit relaxing the intensive post-treatment surveillance, but this possibility has not been standardized by all institutions to date.

STUDY DESIGN

In 2008, the surveillance programme covering the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy adopted the HPV DNA test as a routine tool in the follow-up of women treated for CIN2+. Data from a prospective 5-year study are reported herein. Three hundred and ten patients treated for CIN2+ with a loop electrosurgical excision procedure underwent HPV DNA testing, cytology and colposcopy at 6 months post treatment. If all three tests were negative, women were tested at 18 months with cytology and colposcopy. If any of the three tests were positive, women were tested at 12, 18 and 24 months with cytology and colposcopy. When appropriate, a colposcopy-directed biopsy or CIN2+ retreatment was performed. After 18-24 months, the patients were tested annually with cytology for 3 years.

RESULTS

None of the 172 (55%) women who were HPV negative at 6 months were found to have residual/recurrent CIN2+ during the surveillance period. In contrast, among the 138 (45%) HPV-positive women, 17 cases of residual/recurrent CIN2+ (17/138; 12.3%) were identified between 6 and 24 months.

CONCLUSION

HPV DNA testing at six months after treatment for CIN2+ effectively identifies women who are disease free (HPV negative), and for whom a single follow-up at 18 months is sufficient.

Conisation as a marker of persistent human papilloma virus infection and risk of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may increase breast cancer (BC) risk.

METHODS

To examine this, we used nationwide medical registries to identify all Danish women who underwent conisation to remove HPV-associated cervical precancerous lesions (n=87 782) from 1978 to 2013. We computed the absolute risk of BC and standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for breast cancer, based on national breast cancer incidence rates.

RESULTS

Conisation was associated with slightly increased BC incidence (SIR=1.1, 95% CI=1.0-1.1), and an absolute BC risk of 7.7% (95% CI=7.3-8.1%) in 35.9 years of follow-up. BC risk was elevated throughout follow-up, especially in the first 5 years (<1 year: SIR=1.2, 95% CI=0.92-1.5; 1-5 years: SIR=1.2, 95% CI=1.1-1.3; ⩾5 years: SIR=1.1, 95% CI=1.0-1.1). Women who underwent conisation and had autoimmune disease had elevated BC risk after 5 years of follow-up (SIR=1.4, 95% CI=1.0-1.8).

CONCLUSIONS

BC risk is slightly elevated in women with persistent HPV infection, possibly due to detection bias.

HPV-Testing in Follow-up of Patients Treated for CIN2+ Lesions

Persistent positivity of HPV-DNA testing is considered a prognostic index of recurrent disease in patients treated for CIN2+. HPV detection, and particularly genotyping, has an adequate high rate of sensitivity and specificity (along with an optimal reproducibility), for accurately predicting treatment failure, allowing for an intensified monitoring activity. Conversely, women with a negative HPV-test 6 months after therapy have a very low risk for residual/recurrent disease, which leads to a more individualized follow-up schedule, allowing for a gradual return to the normal screening scheme. HPV testing should be routinely included (with or without cytology) in post-treatment follow-up of CIN2+ patients for early detection of recurrence and cancer progression. HPV genotyping methods, as a biological indicator of persistent disease, could be more suitable for a predictive role and risk stratification (particularly in the case of HPV 16/18 persistence) than pooled HPV-based testing. However, it is necessary to be aware of the performance of the system, adhering to strict standardization of the process and quality assurance criteria.