Presence of Human Papillomavirus Type 18 DNA in a Pharyngeal and a Laryngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

We examined the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) genome in pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas by employing the polymerase chain reaction. We detected HPV 16 DNA in one of 11 pharyngeal carcinomas and in 3 of 28 laryngeal carcinomas, and HPV 18 DNA in a pharyngeal and a laryngeal carcinoma. In one of the laryngeal carcinomas, DNA of both HPV types 16 and 18 were detected. To our knowledge, this is the first report of detection of HPV type 18 in head and neck carcinomas.