Overview

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus of the Papillomaviridae family and its genome is made up of DNA. It is the most common cause of viral sexual transmission. Cervical cancer has the second highest incidence in women worldwide. Recent studies have shown that certain types of HPV are mainly responsible for the development of this type of cancer. According to their activity in carcinogenesis, this viral group has been divided into low and high oncogenic risk types. Brazil does not yet have a representative amount of data related to the prevalence of HPV infection. Data on the incidence of the virus is obtained by analyzing patients with invasive cervical carcinoma, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and other types of associated infections. Over the years, molecular assays have shown high sensitivity and specificity in detecting HPV DNA. These techniques show the need to apply a more sensitive and specific viral diagnosis, contributing to the control of viral infection and reducing the incidence and mortality caused by cervical cancer.