Prevalence of oral papillomas in Brazilian children: a retrospectivestudy of biopsied lesions

Abstract

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an etiologic factor for several diseases of the oralmucosa and skin that can undergo a malignant process. Vaccination is the most important form of prevention, with girls being vaccinated between the ages of 9 and 13 and boys between the ages of 11 and 13. There is still no consensus on the prevalence of the HPV virus in children. Aim: To review the prevalence of HPV in children aged 1 to 13 years based on a database of reports of biopsied lesions diagnosed with papilloma analyzed in a national reference laboratory. Material and methods: Anatomic-pathologic reports of biopsies received at the Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Laboratory of the Faculty of Dentistry of the College of São Paulo were analyzed over a 20-year period, between 2002 and 2022. Information on gender, lesion location and diagnostic hypotheses was also collected. Results: In a database of 93,950 reports, the age group analyzed accounted for 4,203 and 99 (2.3%) were diagnosed with papilloma. The proportion of male and female reports was similar at 50.5% and 49.5% respectively. The most common location of the lesion found was the lip region (48%). The most frequently cited diagnostic hypotheses were epulis and verruca vulgaris. Conclusion: The prevalence of papillomas in Brazilian children aged 1 to 13 years was 2.3%. Early diagnosis and advice on HPV vaccination can prevent and avoid exacerbation of the disease. Recognizing the clinical features of lesions is essential for correct diagnosis and early intervention and counseling.