Subclinical Penile Human Papillomavirus Infection in Consorts of Women with Cervical Neoplasia: A Clue to the High-Risk Male

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Abstract
Seventy-five men, each the sexual partner of a woman with histologically proven CIN III, were recruited for study. A control group of 50 men, each the sexual partner of a woman with chlamydial cervicitis, was also recruited. Forty-nine of 75 men (65%) in the study group were found to have histologically proven penile human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, compared to 4 of 50 men (8%) in the control group. Thirty-seven of 75 men (49%) in the study group had histologically proven subclinical penile HPV infection detected only by colposcopic examination after application of 5% acetic acid to otherwise normal penile epithelium. Seven of 75 men (9%) in the study group had histologically proven penile carcinoma in situ. In 4 men, the disease was subclinical. Such disease was not detected in the control group. It is postulated that subclinical penile HPV infection may provide the important reservoir for HPV types implicated in genital neoplasia in women and men.