title: Epstein-Barr virus DNA detection in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six postnasal biopsy samples and 71 fine-needle aspirate samples of neck masses were obtained from patients who were clinically suspect for NPC. Genomic DNA was extracted from the samples, and EBNA1, EBNA2, and LMP genes of EBV were detected by PCR. PCR results were compared with NPC histopathology findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of PCR to detect EBNA1 (97.14%), EBNA2 (88.57%), and LMP (91.43%) genes of EBV in nasopharyngeal biopsy samples were higher than those in fine-needle aspirate samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detection of EBV by PCR in tissue obtained from nasopharyngeal biopsy and fine-needle aspirate samples of neck masses is a relatively inexpensive, reliable, and accurate method of diagnosing NPC. Detection of EBV genes is on par with histopathological examination (HPE) and superior to fine-needle aspirate cytology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCR is an ideal tool for suggesting NPC and guiding the diagnostic workup in occult primary tumors, facilitating earlier diagnosis and reducing morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. yyyap@medic.upm.edu.my
authors.forename: Yoke-Yeow
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Pua Kin
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Manickam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravichandran
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; C402641:EBNA-2 protein, Human herpesvirus 4; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C417029:EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1