Abstract
Carcinoma of the head and neck is the 6th cause of death by cancer in the world. In recent decades the human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in the etiology of this disease ObjectiveTo characterize the types of HPV detected in the oral mucosa in women with cytological abnormalities suggesting intraepithelial squamous lesions in the uterine cervix. Methodsfour-hundred-nine cervical-vaginal and oral pap-smears of women interned in a Female Prison in São Paulo were examined. The relationship between cervical and oral lesion was analyzed by PCR/RFLP and DNA sequencing. ResultsOf 27 (6.67%) specimens showing cervical cytological abnormalities suggesting LSIL and HSIL, 22 (81.48%) had oncogenic high-risk HPV infection, of which HPV 59 was the most prevalent. Three (11.1%) samples showed cytological changes suggesting mild dysplasia in the oral cavity. ConclusionOur study suggests an association between carcinoma of the oral cavity and HPV infection, regardless of the virus type.
Highlights
Head and neck cancer is the 5th largest cause of cancer and the 6th largest cause of death by cancer in the world[1]
Our study suggests an association between carcinoma of the oral cavity and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection, regardless of the virus type
Among the 27 women who had lesions in the uterine cervix, three (11.11%) showed cell changes associated with mild dysplasia in the oral cavity, with mild dyskariosis in mature squamous cells, and 24 (88.89) showed reactive changes associated with inflammation, occasionally associated with infectious agents (Table 1)
Summary
Head and neck cancer is the 5th largest cause of cancer and the 6th largest cause of death by cancer in the world[1]. The largest incidence of this disease stems from the squamous cells of the upper digestive tract epithelium (oral cavity, pharynx and larynx). Estimates for the year 2010 showed the occurrence of 14,120 new cases of oral cavity cancer, with a total of 6,214 cases of death caused by this disease, being the largest prevalence associated with males (10,330 cases)[3]. Infection by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been associated with the etiology of this disease, as it happens with uterine cervix cancer. Sexual behavior has a direct relationship with the transmission mechanism of this viral infection, and the direct contact between the mucosae is the main route[4,5,6,7]. Vertical transmission can happen[8,9]
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