What is a common method for detecting HPV-related cervical lesions?

P16 immunohistochemistry is a highly valuable method for detecting HPV-related cervical lesions because it identifies the overexpression of the p16INK4a protein, which is a surrogate marker for high-risk HPV infection. In the context of cervical pathology, especially when diagnosing squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL), the presence of p16 serves as an indicator of the oncogenic potential of the HPV and correlates with the degree of dysplasia. This method is particularly useful in distinguishing between low-grade and high-grade lesions, as p16 positivity typically indicates a higher grade lesion, and can assist in confirming a diagnosis made on cytological or histological samples.

While Pap smears are critically important in cervical cancer screening and can suggest abnormal findings, they do not specifically identify the presence of HPV infection or the activity of the virus itself. HPV typing via PCR is a molecular technique that directly detects HPV DNA but is not the primary method used in routine histopathological examinations to assess cervical lesions. Flow cytometry, although useful in other aspects of pathology, is not a conventional tool for evaluating cervical lesions. Thus, among the options provided, p16 immunohistochemistry stands out as the appropriate method for identifying HPV-related changes in cervical tissue.