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. 2018 Dec 3;4(1):43-48.
doi: 10.1002/lio2.222. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Benign proliferative epithelial lesions of oral mucosa are infrequently associated with α-, β-, or γ human papillomaviruses

Sirli Kerge  1 , Jessi Vuorinen  2 , Saija Hurme  3 , Tero Soukka  1 , Tarik Gheit  4 , Massimo Tommasino  4 , Stina Syrjänen  5   2 , Jaana Rautava  5   2
Affiliations

Benign proliferative epithelial lesions of oral mucosa are infrequently associated with α-, β-, or γ human papillomaviruses

Sirli Kerge et al. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. .

Abstract

Background: Oral papillomas and verruca vulgaris have been associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, approximately half of these have remained HPV-negative when tested for mucosal HPV genotypes. In this study, we evaluated presence of α-, β-, and γ-HPVs in benign papillary and verrucous lesions.

Methods: Eighty-three clinical lesions with suspected HPV etiology were analyzed for HPV types of genus α (n = 24), β (n = 46), and γ (n = 52). Immunohistochemistry was used for p16 as a possible surrogate marker of high-risk HPV, accompanied by Ki-67 proliferation marker.

Results: Altogether, α-HPVs were detected in 6.4%, β-HPVs in 2.4%, and γ-HPV in 4.8%. The following genotypes were identified: HPV6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 161, and 170. Neither Ki-67 nor p16 positivity alone were associated with HPV but combined staining showed significant inverse association (P = .042).

Conclusion: HPV infection is found only in a minority of benign verrucous and papillary oral lesions, with the predominance of α-HPVs.

Level of evidence: 4.

Keywords: HPV; Oral; benign; p16; papilloma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Gross appearance and clinical picture of a papilloma under the mobile tongue. The arrows showing koilocytes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Micrographs showing the grading of p16 immunostaining; A) low (<25 of epithelium), B) moderate (25–75%), and C) strong (>75%) p16 positivity of the epithelia.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Examples of A) moderate and B) high Ki‐67 stainings.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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