A study of 642 women found that 83% had one or more tumorigenic HPV types when cervical cytologic specimens were assayed by a sensitive (hybrid capture) technique.

When examining cytologic specimens, mild koilocytosis is characteristic of ASC-US (atypical squamous cells - undetermined significance).

To address these questions, one promising approach would be the development of specific immunohistochemical markers capable of improving the sensitivity and reliability of methods currently employed to detect precursor lesions in histologic and cytologic specimens [ 9, 10].