Objective: To establish a connection between infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and development of malignant (squamous cell carcinoma) and benign lesions (epithelial hyperplasia papillomatosis and papilloma) of the oral cavity and oropharynx.
Method: A retrospective study of 66 blades and paraffin blocks with biopsy tissue fixed with formalin. This material, collected in 2002, refers to a group of 44 men (66.7%) and 22 women (33.3%) with ages ranging from 11 to 100 years, with confirmed diagnoses of squamous cell carcinoma in 38 cases, of epithelial hyperplasia papillomatosis in 20 cases and of papillomas in 8 cases. This material was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and the presence of viral DNA in the biopsy samples was determined.
Results: Presence of the viral DNA (HPV) in 16 of the 38 cases of carcinoma (42.5%), 19 in 20 cases of hyperplasia (95%) and 8 in 8 cases of papilloma (100%) was detected.
Conclusion: The samples in this study show the predominant incidence of the HPV in the epithelial hyperplasia papillomatosis and papilloma in relation to squamous cell carcinoma. This last lesion, on the other hand, did not show statistical correlation to the HPV.