Detection of human papillomavirus in laryngeal squamous dysplasia and carcinoma. An in situ hybridization and signal amplification study

We examined the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in 65 cases of l aryngeal squamous dysplasia and carcinomas using in situ hybridization with signal amplification in paraffin sections. Hybridization was performed wit h biotynilated DNA probes for HPV 6/11, 16/18, 31/33 and wide-spectrum HPV (6, 11, 16, 30, 31, 45, 51 and 52). HPV DNA was found in 7 cases of the tot al sample (10.7%); it was also found in 4 out of 45 (8.8%) cases of invasiv e carcinoma and in 5 out of 33 (15.5%) cases of squamous dysplasia. Morphol ogical signs suggestive of HPV infection were observed in 35.5% of our samp le but they were not related to HPV DNA positivity. In conclusion, HPV prob ably plays little, if any, role in laryngeal carcinogenesis among the popul ation studied.