[Detection of human papillomavirus in the upper respiratory tract in children without recurrent respiratory papillomatosis]

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy specimens from pediatric patients without juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP), so as to understand the effect of HPV infection in the upper respiratory tract in children.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-one pediatric patients without known JORRP or other HPV-related diseases undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy for hypertrophy or chronic tonsillitis were enrolled in this prospective study. One hundred and seventy-seven fresh samples of tonsillar tissues and 195 samples of adenoid tissues were collected and then examined for the presence of HPV DNA with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and typing. Laryngeal papilloma specimens from 17 patients obtained during routine debulking procedures were also analyzed and served as positive controls.

Results: All 17 papilloma specimens were positive for HPV DNA and the type was 6 or 11. This result confirmed that the methods used were valid for detecting HPV infection. HPV DNA was detected in 2 of the 177 tonsillar specimens and zero of the 195 adenoid specimens. The two positive samples were confirmed with typing. One was positive for HPV6 and the other for HPV11. Review of the medical records of these two cases confirmed that there were no history of HPV-related diseases. Histologic analysis of their specimens showed lymphoid hyperplasia, no specific changes suggesting HPV infection and no signs of malignancy. The HPV infection rate in upper respiratory tract was 0.8% (2/241).

Conclusion: There is HPV infection in upper respiratory tract in Chinese children without JORRP, but maybe is not sufficient for the formation of JORRP.