Human papillomavirus and the squamous epithelium of the female genital tract.
The evidence linking human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN), cervical cancer and similar changes in the vulval and vaginal epithelium is reviewed. Reference is made to prevalence rates for HPV and CIN in South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia and the prospect of an 'epidemic' of cervical and possibly of other squamous genital cancers is discussed. Only an effective cytological screening programme with effective follow-up arrangements will prevent this; these should be priorities for future preventive medicine strategies.
Bloch
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town.
Dehaeck
C M
CM
D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology