Hierarchical evaluation of histology and p16-labeling can improve the risk assessment on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia progression

•The expression of p16 increases with the severity of cervical lesions.•Nuclear labeling is the best strategy for discriminating between LSIL and HSIL using p16 immunohistochemistry.•Hierarchical analysis using colposcopy, cytology and immunohistochemistry increases the accuracy of the risk stratification.