Significance of negative cervical cytology and positive HPV in the diagnosis of cervical lesions by colposcopy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of colposcopy in diagnosing cervical lesions when negative cervical cytology is combined with positive human papillomavirus (HPV).

Methods: Overall, 370 patients with cervical epithelial lesions who had negative cervical fluid-based cytology combined with positive HPV results were selected and analysed for severity of cervical lesions and HPV distribution.

Results: Among the patients with cervical lesions, 242 had a single HPV infection, and 128 cases had multiple infections. No significant difference was found between HPV single infection and multiple infections in both groups of patients with cervical lesions (P > 0.05). Furthermore, 137 had non-HPV 16 and 18, accounting for 37.30% of all the patients with cervical lesions. Among them, HPV 52, 58, and 33 infections were the most common at 38.69, 30.66 and 29.20%, respectively - significantly higher than other high-risk HPV types (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: High-risk HPV testing is crucial in patients with negative cervical fluid-based cytology combined with positive HPV results. Patients with HPV 16 and 18 and those with simple HPV 52, 58, and 33 infections should undergo timely colposcopy.