Sammanfattning
Introduction - Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been recognized
as the principal etiological factor in the development of
cervical cancer, and furthermore linked to a subset of head and
neck cancer. This may explain the recent increase in cases of oral
cancer, despite the decline and stagnation of the two known carcinogenic
risk factors tobacco and alcohol. Oral potentially malignant
disorders (OPMD) are frequently observed by the dentist,
and are believed to precede 20-50% of oral cancers.
The aim - To elucidate the prevalence of HPV in OPMD and
the influence of HPV on the malignant progression of these
lesions.
Material and methods - Based on literature search the association
of HPV and OPMD in particular: leukoplakia, erythroplakia,
and oral lichen planus is described. Also the prevalence of HPV
in OPMD and apparently healthy oral mucosa is investigated. On
this basis, we discuss the possible link between HPV and malignant
development of OPMD, including future development in
diagnosis and treatment.
Results and conclusion - We conclude that indications of HPV
infection, in particular HPV-16, more often occurs in OPMD than
in apparently healthy oral mucosa. Still, in the literature there is no
epidemiological evidence to substantiate an association between
in the malignant development and HPV in OPMD. Prospective
studies are needed to elucidate this.