Detection of Human Papillomavirus infection in oral mucosal diseases: a single-center study

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection accounts for more than 70% of oropharyngeal cancers, but only a small proportion of oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of HPV-DNA in oral diseases. Methods: : This was a cross-sectional-study of 99 adult patients seen for the evaluation of oral diseases. All patients received an oral biopsy/histopathological examination and a brush biopsy for HPV-DNA detection/genotyping by real-time polymerase-chain-reaction. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess p16INK4a expression. P values were considered significant at P < 0.05. Results: : HPV was identified in 15/99 (15.2%) patients (males:66.6%). Patients with oral lichen planus (OLP;23.8%), oral leukoplakia (OL;17.5%), and conditions of the buccal mucosa (BM;17.5%) had the highest rate of infection. Most patients with high-risk-HPV infection presented with OLP (19.1%), whereas most of the patients with low-risk-HPV infections had epithelial hyperkeratosis-non-reactive (9.4%). Amongst all benign lesions, 19.0% were positive for any HPV infection. One patient with OL showing mild-epithelial-dysplasia had a positive p16INK4a expression. Conclusions: : The highest rate of HPV infection was in male patients, patients with OL/OLP, and in conditions of the BM. Larger studies are needed to elucidate the role of HPV in the development of these conditions.