Epstein-Barr virus and human herpes virus-8 are not associated with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.
BACKGROUND
Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (also known as juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma) is a rare fibroblastic tumor with a vascular component that occurs in the nasopharynx and posterolateral nasal wall of adolescent boys. The etiology of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma remains elusive. This investigation was undertaken to determine if human herpes simplex virus-8 and Epstein-Barr virus are possible etiologic viruses and to determine if they have any association with the age of the patient and/or the proliferative state of the lesion.


METHODS
Formalin fixed, routinely processed, and paraffin embedded surgical specimens of 15 angiofibromas were submitted to PCR for EBV and HHV-8, while in situ hybridization was also employed for EBV. Immunohistochemical analysis for ki-67 was performed using MIB immunostaining.


RESULTS
None of the tumors were positive for HHV-8. The PCR technique produced a false positive reaction in five cases, with all cases non-reactive with EBV-ISH. The age of the patients did not show correlation with the Ki-67 labeling index.


CONCLUSIONS
Angiofibroma does not appear to be associated with either HHV-8 or EBV, thereby excluding these viruses as potential etiologic agents. The lack of a correlation between the proliferative index and the age of the patient suggests the proposed puberty induced, testosterone-dependent tumor growth may not play a significant role in tumor development.
Carlos
Román
R
Departmento de Patologia, Centro Clinico de Cabeza e Cuello, Guatemala, Guatemala.
Thompson
Lester D R
LD
Netto
Ana Carolina
AC
Pimenta
Luiz Gustavo Garcia Santos
LG
Correia-Silva
Jeane de Fátima
Jde F
Gomes
Carolina Cavaliéri
CC
Gomez
Ricardo Santiago
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D018322:Angiofibroma / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004279:DNA, Viral; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins