The effect of time interval between referral and colposcopy on detection of XXXX DNA and on outcome of biopsy.

@entity1 @entity2784 @entity75 @entity1082
OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess the effect of the time interval between referral cytology and the outcome of colposcopically directed biopsy in relation to @entity1082 ) DNA detected by polymerase chain reaction in @entity1 referred after abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. STUDY DESIGN: The study enrolled 453 @entity1 who were referred for colposcopic examination after two Pap smears were reported as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or low-grade @entity75 (LSIL) and 553 @entity1 who were referred with a single smear reported as @entity2784 ( @entity2784 ). RESULTS: The results in both @entity1 groups were evaluated in time intervals of 60 days or more, 61 to 120 days, and more than 120 days between referral and colposcopy. A higher proportion of white @entity1 than African American @entity1 and Hispanic @entity1 were seen within 60 days after referral in both referral groups. @entity1 of all race/ethnic backgrounds referred with @entity2784 were seen within 60 days in a significantly larger proportion than @entity1 referred with ASCUS/LSIL. @entity1 referred with ASCUS/LSIL had an increasing frequency of negative HPV findings with the prolonged time intervals. In @entity1 referred with a single smear of @entity2784 , there was a significantly decreasing trend over time in detection of low-risk and unidentified types of HPV and an increasing trend of HPV DNA negative results. CONCLUSION: The frequency of high-risk HPV DNA was similar in @entity1 referred with ASCUS/LSIL or @entity2784 . In both referral groups, there was a time-dependent increase of negative biopsy results and a decreased frequency of low-risk HPV or of unidentified HPV types. This suggests that the initial abnormality on the Pap smear associated with other than high-risk HPV types may regress over time. The presence of high-risk HPV DNA does not predict the actual histologically verifiable tissue changes but indicates a lower probability of negative biopsy results in all time intervals between referral and biopsy.
