Epstein-Barr virus and cancers of the head and neck

Denis Burkitt pioneered the association of viruses and cancer in humans wit h his observations of lymphomatous tumors in children in equatorial Africa. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a human B lymphotrophic herpes virus, is str ongly associated with undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx and Afr ican-type Burkitt's lymphoma. More recently, an association of this virus w ith other epithelial neoplasms, lymphomas, and immunodeficiency-related mal ignant and nonmalignant conditions has been reported. Since many of these t umors are rare, much of the information is based on sporadic reports and re latively small series of patients. The purpose of this report is to review the literature and examine the growing association of EBV with Various head and neck malignancies. (Am J Otolaryngol 2001,22:197-205. Copyright (C) 20 01 by W.B. Saunders Company).