Clinico-pathological characterisation of human papillomavirus-associated oral epithelial dysplasia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2025
Abstract
Background: Human papillomavirus-associated oral epithelial dysplasia (HPV-OED) has been recently recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a distinct type of oral epithelial dysplasia. The rarity of HPV-OED, together with gaps in the current understanding of risk factors and clinical behaviour raise the risk of under- recognition and misdiagnosis. To address this, we describe the clinico-pathological features of a consecutive series of HPV-OED from a single institution to provide additional insight into the presentation and behaviour of this disease. Methods: Consecutive cases of HPV-OED were identified over a 20-year period from the pathology routine diagnostic archives of a single centre. Cases with features of viral cytopathic changes in a background of OED underwent HPV-specific testing in addition to p16 immunohistochemistry to confirm HPV positivity. Results: Fifty-three consecutive patients with HPV-OED were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 55 years- old and there was a strong male predilection (83 %). Most patients were smokers or former smokers, and almost a fifth of individuals were Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive. The latero-ventral tongue was the most common index site. Twenty-eight percent of cases were associated with invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma. There was a statistically significant association between with patient's HIV status and malignant transformation (p = 0.022). Conclusions: Findings from our cohort of HPV-OED patients suggests that malignant transformation is relatively frequent and associated with the HIV status of patients.
Keywords
Human papillomavirus, Oral cavity, Dysplasia
Divisions
oralmax
Funders
None
Publication Title
Oral Oncology
Volume
162
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS