The correct term for human papillomavirus infection is human papillomavirus infection, or HPV infection. HPV infection does not cause a single disease; the virus primarily invades the mucosal tissue of the human skin and the degree of proliferative lesions brought on by the infection depends on the type of HPV. For example, infection with low-risk HPV types (e.g. HPV6, HPV11) can cause benign tumours or warts, such as flat warts and condyloma acuminatum.
Infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (e.g. HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, HPV33, HPV45) can cause cervical and vaginal intraepithelial lesions and is a major cause of cervical cancer, with HPV type 16 being detected in up to 50% of cervical cancer patients.