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Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is one of the most frequent forms of cancer in women. The association between cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV) is undisputable. This association presents the possibility to use the presence of HPV as a diagnostic/prognostic indicator. Earlier investigations of the presence of HPV DNA in lymph nodes from women with early stage cervical cancer have shown that there is no prognostic value. Most likely HPV DNA can also be present in lymph nodes internalized ini mmuno competent cells, such as macrophages. Detection of RNA, being extremely sensitive to degradation, excludes the presence of deed tumors cells. Follow-up of patients should give an indication of the prognostic value of RNA detection.
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