Oral Mucosal Transformation in Women With Genital HPV Infection. An Epidemiologic Study on East Sicily

Objectives: The frequency and incidence of clinical HPV infections of oral mucosa is a condition that is really debated in the present literature. Stil no official data exist on transmission of oral HPV infections from genital lesions. The aim of this investigation was to highlight whether genital HPV infections predispose the oral mucosa to this virus.
Methods: This study reports the clinical, histologic and cytologic findings of oral mucosa as connected to the genital condition of 70 women prospectively followed-up in Messina University Policlinico G Martino Hospital from 2010. All the subject were referred to the Oral Pathology department from the Ginecology Department of the same structure.
Results: Oral mucosa was clinically normal in 50 of 70 recorded patients. Biopsies (n = 70) were taken from the buccal mucosa beneath the linea alba and above the sulcus in the region of the first molar, or from a lesion whenever present. Cytologic scrapings were taken from both sides of the buccal mucosa in order to have a split mouth evaluatuon.
Conclusions: The high prevalence of HPV infections is not necessarily reflected as an increased prevalence of modification of the oral cavity mucosa. However, clinicians should be able to recognize possibile signs and symptoms in order to have a quick diagnosis.