Clinical management of women presenting with field effect of HPV and intraepithelial disease

Abstract

Anogenital human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection acquired through skin-to-skin contact. Most infections are cleared by an intact immune system. Persistence of these infections results in precancerous lesions and, eventually, to cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, and perianal area. The introduction of the prophylactic human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccinations may reduce the incidence of these infections, but the effect of these vaccinations will be seen only in the decades that follow. In the meantime, multiple therapies such as immune modulators, ablative modalities, and surgical excision are used in an attempt to treat precancerous lesions and hence prevent cancer. There is an increase in multicentric disease in young women, especially with the HIV epidemic and in women who are immune compromised. This article aims to address the challenges and management options in women who have a field effect of HPV-associated disease.

Keywords: Human papillomavirus; Immune compromise; Multifocal intraepithelial disease; Therapeutic dilemmas.