Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus in an inner-city population with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) cytology in an inner-city clinic and a private office population to determine if HPV screening is useful in either group before colposcopy.

Methods: After an institutional review board approval at Hartford Hospital, we reviewed the charts of patients with ASCUS cytology and high-risk HPV DNA who were seen at the Community Health Services, Inc. in Hartford, CT (clinic patients), between January 1, 2000, and July 1, 2004, and at a private practice site in Hartford, CT (private patients), between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2004.