The importance of HPV testing in cervical cancer prevention

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer is second most common malignant tumor of female reproductive system in the world. HPV infection is present in 99% of cases, therefore very important in its development.Material and method: Our research was conducted in Primary health care center for women in Podgorica and included 100 women aged 20-60. During the examination PAP testing and colposcopy were performed to every participant. HPV mRNA detection test with differentiation of types 16, 18, 31, 35, 55 was done in cases of abnormal PAP test result, or suspected clinical or colposcopic examination accompanied by normal PAP test.Results: PAP testing showed II group in 72 patients, IIIa in 19 and IIIb in 3. HPV testing was performed in 26 patients (in which 4 with PAP II result). It was positive for presence of high-oncogenic types in 15 patients (57,69%) and negative in 11 (42,31%). In patients with detected lesion by examination or colposcopy, we performed biopsy. Results showed CIN I in 1 patient, CIN II in 2, CIN III in 5 and invasive carcinoma in 1 patient.Conclusion: Our research showed great importance of HPV testing in patients with false negative PAP tests; its importance as diagnostic marker in prognosis of illness, as well as the fact that HPV testing, as basic one, without examination and PAP testing, doesn’t make sense as it would increase the number of false negative results.