Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most frequent cause of cancer in women. Research demonstrates that infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) leads to cervical cancer. The clinical HPV lesion in both sexes is the pointed wart like tumor called condyloma acuminatum. Detecting subclinical lesions varies, however, based on the genital organ and on the methods of examination. Several types of HPV infect anogenital epithelia and the resultant disease is partially determined by HPV type. In vitro methods to detect HPV do not exist, so laboratory personnel must depend on biochemical diagnostic procedures--molecular hybridization and serological procedures. HPV lesions, especially HPV- 16 and HPV-18, may turn into carcinomas depending on the activation or inactivation of some unknown genes perhaps influenced by tobacco smoking, oral contraceptives, other genital infections, or other unknown cofactors. Clinicians need to realize the potential gravity of HPV infection including the pathogenesis of lesions and its transmission through sexual contact. They must also be able to perform those diagnostic procedures that can detect HPV infection. Treatment of HPV lesions (e.g., cryosurgery, cautery, etc.) aims to either cure a repulsive, infectious, yet uncomplicated condition or prevent invasive cancer if HPV is connected with intraepithelial neoplasia. The results of the few well controlled studies of treatment of anogenital HPV- induced lesions show that 15-60

来源：Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1987 年 65卷 6期