Discussion

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in viruses in general and in human papilloma viruses (HPVs) specifically. HPVs show an exclusive tropism for epidermal cells and squamous mucosal epithelium. Of the approximately 70 types of HPVs identified, certain types appear to favor either oral mucosal or cutaneous sites, and others tend to target the anogenital region. 1 Palefsky JM Silverman Jr, S Abdel-Salaam M et al. Association between proliferative verrucous leukoplakia and infection with human papillomavirus type 16. J Oral Pathol Med. 1995; 24: 193 Crossref PubMed Scopus (115) Google Scholar The virus is capable of producing a variety of clinically familiar proliferative surface lesions at sites of infection. On light microscopy, these typically exophytic growths show characteristic cytomorphologic and topographic features, which include, among others, koilocytosis, verrucopapillary surface keratosis, and broad, bulbous rete ridge architecture. In effect, these features serve as cognitive “footprints” that are strongly suggestive of HPV-related viral modification. 2 Neville BW Damm DD Allen CM et al. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. in: ed 1. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA1995: 259-266 Google Scholar Such alterations reflect the virus's ability to insinuate its DNA into that of the host cell, which enables the virus both to reproduce itself and to act as an agent of discernible clinicopathologic change. 3 Cotran RS Kumar V Collins T Robbins' Pathologic Basis of Disease. in: ed 6. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA1999: 340 Google Scholar , 4 Ostwald C Müller P Barten M et al. Human papillomavirus DNA in oral squamous cell carcinomas and normal mucosa. J Oral Pathol Med. 1994; 23: 220 Crossref PubMed Scopus (116) Google Scholar