Possibilities and limitations of the acetic acid test in the identification of vulvar papillomavirus lesions. A colposcopic, histologic and virologic study

42 subclinical HPV related vulvar lesions have been studied by Southern Blot Hybridization and histological samplings. 15 women had normal Pap smears. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was present in 24 other women, 15 of them had HPV on Southern Blots. Macular or papular areas on the vulva were strongly correlated with HPV infection, since 6 out 9 of them harboured HPV 16, 42 or X. Histologically, flat condyloma was present in 6 cases. However, 33 nonspecific acetowhite reactions of the vulva were free of HPV. It is therefore important to recognize such aspects on colposcopical examination of the vulva to avoid unnecessary treatment.