Objective: To study the relationship between the infection of human papillomavirus (HPV) and external genital squamous cell carcinoma in situ.
Methods: HPV DNA was detected with the consensus primer by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its type was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
Results: HPV DNA was detected and HPV16 was the most frequently identified type in 29 (56.9%) of 51 cases of external genital squamous cell carcinoma in situ. HPV DNA was positive in 22 (55%) of 40 cases of bowenoid papulosis, among which 20 were of HPV16 type, one of HPV31 type, and one of HPV6 + 16 type. HPV DNA was positive in all 5 cases (100%) of Bowen's disease, among which 4 were HPV16 type and one of HPV6 + 16 type. HPV DNA was positive in 2 (33.3%) of 6 Queyrat erythroplasia cases and all were of HPV16 type.
Conclusion: HPV16 infection is strongly associated with the external genital squamous cell carcinoma in situ including bowenoid papulosis, Bowen's disease, and Queyrat erythroplasia.