Onkológia 4/2008

THE IMPORTANCE OF LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICS OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUSES

Cervical cancer is a rare but most severe complication of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus infection. The Human Papillomavirus-induced carcinogenesis is a multistep process lasting several years. The authors present brief overview of carcinogenesis and the role of human papillomavirus testing in diagnosis of cervical precanceroses. First of all the differences between analytical and clinical sensitivity of testing methods and an importance of clinically relevant viral load levels for beginning and progression of cervical lesions are stressed.

Keywords: cervical cancer, carcinogenesis, HPV testing methods, analytical sensitivity, clinical sensitivity, viral load