ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: As we move toward human papillomavirus (HPV) only as the preferred cervical cancer screening method, we performed a retrospective analysis of Black and White women with negative cytology (Papanicolaou negative [PAPneg]) and positive high-risk HPV (hrHPV) (HPVpos) results and determined follow-up. METHODS: We searched our pathology data system for patients with PAPneg/HPVpos results (2017-2019). Follow-up data were reviewed (39 months), and a comparison among race was performed. RESULTS: In total, 1,728 patients were identified (Black, 53%; White, 47%). Twenty-nine percent of the patients had no follow-up with no difference among the races. HPV 16 was more common among Whites (Pâ <â .01), while non-16/18 hrHPV was more common among Black patients (Pâ =â .01). A total of 30 (3.3%) Black and 26 (3.2%) White patients were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 (CIN 2/3). More White women were diagnosed on biopsy alone (negative endocervical curettage) compared with Black women (20 vs 9, Pâ <â .01). Meanwhile, there were 21 Black and 6 White women with CIN 2/3 on endocervical curettage (Pâ =â .01). CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up of women with PAPneg/HPVpos remains a challenge. There was no disparity in follow-up when cohorts were compared. However, Black women had higher numbers of high-grade intraepithelial lesions on endocervical curettage.
