Detection of human papillomavirus in laryngeal papilloma using polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization

Background: Human papillomavirus virus (HPV) has been proposed to be closely associated with laryngeal papilloma. In an attempt to clarify the role of HPV in laryngeal papilloma, the authors applied highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction to demonstrate HPV DNA in laryngeal papilloma and in situ hybridization to accurately localize the vital signal within tissue. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization with biotinylated probes were applied to paraffin-embedded tissue of laryngeal papilloma from six patients (4 juvenile-onset, 2 adult-onset) to detect HPVs. Results: Using polymerase chain reaction, HPV 6/11 DNA was detected in all of both adult-onset and juvenile-onset cases. However, no HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 52b, and 58 was detected. In situ hybridization of HPV 6/11 DNA intranuclear hybridization signals were found in all cases. Conclusions: Results in this study support the concept that laryngeal papilloma is an HPV-induced lesion, mostly due to HPV 6 and 11. No significant difference was found between juvenile-onset and adult-onset laryngeal papilloma in the patterns of HPV infection.