Detection of human papillomavirus in ameloblastoma

Objectives: to investigate the presence of high-risk types of HPV 16 and 18 in intrabony ameloblastomas and its possible role in viral pathogenesis of ameloblastoma. Methods: HPV 16 and 18 were investigated in 20 cases of ameloblastomas and 10 cases of dentigerous cysts using PCR analysis. Results: HPV 16 and 18 E6 were detected in 7 and 2 out of 20 samples respectively. HPV 16 was detected in 5 of 18 mandible samples and 2 of 2 maxilla samples. In 7 HPV 16-positive ameloblastomas, 2 cases were males (2/8) and 5 cases were females (5/12); 4 were desmoplastic, 3 cases were follicular ameloblastomas. Six of 7 HPV 16-positive samples were primary tumors in duration from 2-5 months. In 3 recurrent ameloblastomas 1 case was HPV 16- and 18-negative in the primary lesion and HPV 16-positive in the recurrent lesion. The other 2 recurrent cases were HPV 16 and 18-negative in both primary and secondary lesions. HPV 16 and 18 E6 were detected in 3 and 2 of 10 dentigerous cysts, respectively. Conclusions: HPV 16 or HPV 18 infection may be related to the formation of odontogenic tumors and developmental cysts.