Lesions causatively associated with HPV infections

High-risk types of HPV infections are recognized as a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer. However, HPV infections may also be causatively associated with the development of anogenital intraepithelial neoplasias in the region of the vagina and vulva which are precursors of over half of invasive squamous cancers of these organs. Anal HPV infections in both genders are associated with the vast majority of anal canal cancers, and in males HPV infections are responsible for the development of about 50% of penile cancers. High prevalence of HPV DNA in head and neck cancers has also been demonstrated, with tonsillar cancer being most often HPV positive. Genital warts are refractory lesions, benign in nature, though causing a significant decrease in quality of life of about 1% of the sexually active population. The other clinically important manifestation of low-risk HPV infection (predominantly HPV 6 and 11) is laryngeal papillomas, causing recurrent airway obstructions.