[Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia and human papillomavirus infection: a report of 75 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) is an uncommon and poorly understood disease. Risk factors other than human papillomavirus (HPV) infection could be linked to the onset and evolution of some VaIN.


METHODS
In this paper, the results achieved from the analysis of 75 patients with VaIN are reported. From these cases, women with HIV, previous hysterectomy, autoimmune diseases and radio- and chemotherapy have been excluded. Thus, most of these selected cases should be linked to the HPV infection. They have been examined after a distinction between grade and association with coilocytosis. VaIN preferential localization, mean age of patients and manifestation pattern after vaginal colposcopy have then been examined.


RESULTS
Although the population size cannot allow evidences, it seems that VaIN with coilocytosis and VaIN I without coilocytosis have preferential localization in the upper third of the vagina. It does not appear that mean age of patients for each grade of VaIN differs significativly, both associated and not associated with coilocytosis. Finally, after vaginal colposcopy, the pattern of VaIN for each grade is absolutely not typical, and it seems that white thin epithelium or negative Lugol area are usually the manifestation of high grades of VaIN too.


CONCLUSIONS
These results, if confirmed, could mean that VaIN due to HPV may have a different natural history relating to the site of localization in the vagina and, moreover, that also VaIN of high grade could appear with an innocent vaginal pattern.
Unità di Ginecologia Oncologica Preventiva e Patologia del Tratto Genitale Inferiore, S.C. di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Perugia. ugo.indraccolo@libero.it
U
U
Indraccolo
E
E
Del Frate
S
S
Cenci
M
M
Ubertosi
R
R
Donati Sarti
C
C
Donati Sarti
A
A
Baldoni
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*