Two different types of human papillomavirus in a patient with carcinomas of the vulva and cervix

Abstract

Specific types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are associated with cancer of the cervix and cancer of the vulva (Crum and Nuovo, 1991). However, while the majority of cervical carcinomas contain HPV DNA this is not the case in vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (Hording et al., 1994). There is evidence for two different aetiologies for vulvar cancers: keratinising squamous carcinomas which are generally found in older women and rarely associated with HPV, and the warty carcinomas and basaloid carcinomas found in a subgroup of younger patients with HPV and associated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (Hording et al., 1994). Although multicentric genital HPV infections are relatively common (Bauer et al., 1991) it is rare to find two different HPV types associated with two carcinomas in the same patient. In this paper we describe such a case.