title: Prevalence of oncogenic human papillomavirus 16 and 18 in the palatine tonsils of the general adult population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there has been a demonstrable increase in the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected palatine tonsils corresponding to the increase in incidence of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of archived, paraffin-embedded, noncancerous palatine tonsils.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single institution in El Paso County, Colorado.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age- and sex-matched patients 21 years and older from 2 different periods: January 1, 1979, to December 31, 1982, (group A) and January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2001 (group B).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of oncogenic HPV-16 and HPV-18 in noncancerous palatine tonsils in relation to the incidence of HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All specimens in both groups were negative for HPV-16 and HPV-18. Thus, the prevalence of HPV infection in the palatine tonsils of the general adult population was zero in both group A and group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis shows a low prevalence of HPV infection in the palatine tonsils of the general adult population in a single county in Colorado known to have an increasing rate of HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCC. Analysis of oropharyngeal tissues from individuals at highest risk of developing HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCC (middle-aged men) is likely to provide a higher prevalence rate.
authors.affiliation: Colorado Otolaryngology Associates, 3030 N Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80909, USA. jernster@coloradoent.com
authors.forename: Joel A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ernster
authors.forename: Cosimo G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Sciotto
authors.forename: Maureen M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Willson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D015995:Prevalence; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000821:virology*