[HPV-associated alterations of the vulva and vagina. Morphology and molecular pathology]

Pathologe. 2011 Nov;32(6):467-75. doi: 10.1007/s00292-011-1476-5.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Non-neoplastic HPV-induced alterations of the vulva and vagina are frequent. The traditional three-tier grading system of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) will be replaced by the definition of usual and simplex type of VIN. The usual type is characterized by a strong association to high-risk HPV infections, the occurrence at younger age and multifocality, mostly associated with non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. The differentiated (or simplex) type is rare and shows an association to older age and p53 alterations and is typically diagnosed co-incidentally with keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) is still graded into VAIN 1-3 where VAIN 1 and 2 are mostly associated with low-risk HPV infections and a high spontaneous regression rate whereas VAIN 3 represents a high-risk HPV-associated lesion with capable progression into (micro-)invasive carcinoma. The differential diagnosis between a non-neoplastic condylomatous lesion and VIN common type and VAIN may be aided by p16 immunohistochemistry. The HPV-associated invasive vulvo-vaginal cancers are verrucous carcinoma (low-risk HPV) and the high-risk HPV-induced (non-keratinizing) squamous cell carcinoma (NOS), the condylomatous (warty) carcinoma and the very rare vaginal squamo-transitional carcinoma.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Carcinoma in Situ / genetics
  • Carcinoma in Situ / pathology
  • Carcinoma in Situ / virology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / virology*
  • Carcinoma, Verrucous / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Verrucous / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Verrucous / virology*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology*
  • Condylomata Acuminata / genetics
  • Condylomata Acuminata / pathology*
  • Condylomata Acuminata / virology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Genome, Viral / genetics*
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Papillomavirus Infections / genetics
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology*
  • Precancerous Conditions / genetics
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • Precancerous Conditions / virology
  • Vagina / pathology
  • Vagina / virology
  • Vaginal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Vaginal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Vaginal Neoplasms / virology*
  • Vulva / pathology
  • Vulva / virology
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / genetics
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / virology*