Human papilloma virus (HPV) is not implicated in the etiology of Warthin's tumor of the parotid gland.
CONCLUSIONS
The lack of human papilloma virus (HPV) sequences as well as potential HPV-activated cells such as cells that would be p16- and Ki-67 positive does not support a role of HPV in the pathogenesis of this lesion.


OBJECTIVE
The exact etiopathogenesis of Warthin's tumor of the parotid gland is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if HPV could play a role in the development of this parotid lesion.


METHODS
Tissue samples from 40 Warthin's tumors of the parotid gland were investigated by PCR followed by in situ hybridization. The immunohistochemical expression of p16 and the dual immunostaining of p16 and Ki-67 were evaluated in all samples.


RESULTS
Strong and diffuse p16 immunoreactivity was found in 7 of the 40 cases (17.5%). In situ hybridization showed a diffuse episomal signal in those samples. However, PCR could not reliably detect the presence of HPV genes. Furthermore, p16-expressing epithelial cells were mostly negative for the proliferation marker Ki-67.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Philipp University, Marburg, Germany. teymoort@med.uni-marburg.de
Afshin
A
Teymoortash
Franziska
F
Bohne
Thuridur
T
Jonsdottir
Stefan
S
Hoch
Behfar
B
Eivazi
Marion
M
Roessler
Jochen A
JA
Werner
Robert
R
Mandic
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen