Abstract
AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic value of HPV testing and colposcopy in patients with abnormal cytology results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 186 women with cytological abnormalities were included in the study. The patients underwent colposcopy examinations and DNA HPV testing of cervical smear with genotyping. RESULTS: The HPV test was demonstrated to be more sensitive (79.4%) than specific (60.2%) and was more sensitive than colposcopy for detecting CIN changes (79.4% vs. 73.7%). Combined tests achieved a high sensitivity (90.9%) and negative predictive value (96.1%) in detecting patients with CIN2+ and demonstrated the highest positive predictive value (77.3%) for detecting CIN1+. Colposcopy had a very good specificity (83.5%) and positive predictive value (71.2%) in finding CIN1+ cases. CONCLUSION: HPV tests showed a higher sensitivity than colposcopy, but colposcopy results presented higher specificity. Combining HPV testing and colposcopy proved to be the most efficient method for detecting CIN lesions.