INVERTED PAPILLOMA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WI TH HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS - ASTUDY USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Nasal inverted papilloma is usually a benign tumor but is associated w ith squamous cell carcinoma in about 10% of cases. To determine the et iological role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in inverted papilloma and to clarify the relationship between the different types of human papi llomavirus and malignant transformation, we analyzed retrospectively a series of 29 formalin - fixed, paraffin - embedded cases, 3 of which had squamous cell carcinoma. A highly sensitive and specific modificat ion of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the E6 g ene sequences of HPV 6/11, 16 and 18. HPV was present in 20 of the cas es (69%), HPV 6/11 in 14 (48%), HPV 16 in 19 (65%) and both HPV 6/11 a nd 16 in 13 of the specimens (45%). HPV 18 was not identified in any s pecimen. In all three of the squamous cell carcinomas based on inverte d papillomas, HPV 6/11 and 16 were detected. These results were in agr eement with other studies. While HPV is related etiologically to inver ted papilloma, we suggest that HPV 16 may be involved in its malignant transformation.