2020 WHO Classification of Female Genital Tumors

Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2021 Oct;81(10):1145-1153. doi: 10.1055/a-1545-4279. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

Abstract

The 2020 WHO classification is focused on the distinction between HPV-associated and HPV-independent squamous cell carcinoma of the lower female genital organs. Differentiating according to HPV association does not replace the process of grading; however, the WHO classification does not recommend any specific grading system. VIN are also differentiated according to whether they are HPV(p16)-associated. HPV-independent adenocarcinoma (AC) of the cervix uteri has an unfavorable prognosis. Immunohistochemical p16 expression is considered to be a surrogate marker for HPV association. HPV-associated AC of the cervix uteri is determined using the prognostically relevant Silva pattern.

Keywords: HPV; Silva pattern; p16 immunohistochemistry.