Histologically, 85-90% of carcinoma of uterine cervix are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), whereas only 10-15% are adenocarcinoma (AC). This study will examine the HPV incidence according to the two cell types of cervical cancer.

The subjects were the 138 patients who were diagnosed with carcinoma of uterine cervix including CIS (carcinoma in situ) by means of punch biopsy and conization at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital from January 1998 to June 2003. Those who were given HPV test using hybrid capture II were selected and their medical records were examined retrospectively.Chi(2)-test was done with SPSS 10.0. Data that fall within the range of P>0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

The number of patients given HPV test was 86 in total. Among them, 80 were with SCC, and 6 with AC. HPV positives were 70 while 16 were negative. A total of 66 SCC patients (82.5%) were tested HPV positive and the figure was 4 (66.7%) among the AC patients. In the case of low-grade squamous epithelia lesion (LSIL) or higher than, HPV and Pap positives made up 83% (p=0.599), and among those with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS), the rate was 100% (p=0.536).

First, HPV is a factor that causes carcinoma of uterine cervix regardless of histological types. Second, there must be other factors involved in the discrepancy between the incidence of SCC and that of AC. Third, revealing different carcinogenic mechanism in the two groups can be helpful in the treatment of disease. Last, HPV test is more useful diagnostic tool on AC than SCC.