Detection of human papillomavirus in cholesteatomas

The presence of human papillomavirus DNA in cholesteatoma may have some rol e in the development of middle ear cholesteatoma as well as in papilloma. I n the present study, polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization wi th human papillomavirus (HPV)-6 and -11 DNA probes were used to detect the presence of HPV DNA in 32 human middle ear cholesteatomas. Only one specime n contained HPV-6 DNA. Although its occurrence may have been coincidental, it is also possible that the hyperproliferative epithelium of cholesteatoma s might have some relationship with HPV infections.