Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus 16&18 in Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Rajavithi Hospital
Manus Potaporn MD*, Porn-Ake Apipan MD*, Suchada Suphanpayak MSc**
Affiliation : * Otolaryngologist at ENT Department, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Pathology, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Recently, the incidences of oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas have increased and they
are common in several regions of the world. Many risk factors are attributed to oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers,
including betel nut chewing, tobacco exposure, oral hygiene, alcohol consumption and infection by the human papilloma virus
16 and 18.
Objective : To determine the prevalence of HPV16&18 in the oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in
Rajavithi Hospital.
Material and Method: The examination samples were collected from Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue
blocks from 78 Patients at Rajavithi Hospital, between 1st September 2011 and 30th September 2013. The detection of HPV16
and HPV18 was carried out using real time PCR technique.
Results : HPV DNA was detected in 78 samples (in 7 oropharyngeal specimens and 71 in the oral cavity). Three cases were
positive for HPV16 and only 1 case was positive for HPV18. HPV16&18 were detected in 3.85% and 1.28% of all samples
respectively. The only factor associated with HPV 16&18 infection was age.
Conclusion : The prevalences of human papilloma virus (HPV16 and 18) infection in the oral cavity and oropharyngeal
squamous cell carcinoma in this study were found to be low (5.13%). Human papilloma virus 16 and 18 infection may not
play an important role in this group of Thai patients.
Keywords : Human papillomavirus 16 and 18, Oral cavity, Oropharyngeal, Squamous cell carcinoma
