title: HPV involvement in OSCC: Correlation of PCR results with light microscopic features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study evaluated pathognomic histopathological features with the help of light microscopy for detecting the integration of human papillomavirus (HPV) (type 16 and 18) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five histopathologically diagnosed cases of OSCC were evaluated for the presence of E6/E7 protein of HPV (16 + 18) with the help of nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Both HPV-positive and -negative cases were evaluated for four histological features: Koilocytes, dyskeratosis, invasion, and alteration of collagen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fischer's exact test showed significant difference (P < 0.01%) for the presence of koilocytes and dyskeratosis, whereas no difference was observed for invasion and alteration in collagen between HPV-positive and -negative OSCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of koilocytes and dyskeratosis at light microscopic level can be used as a marker for the presence of HPV (type 16 and 18) in OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, M N D.A.V. Dental College, Tatul, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Rajbir Kaur
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Khangura
authors.forename: Shamindra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Keya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sircar
authors.forename: Bhudev
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Sanjeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rastogi
keywords: Dyskeratosis; histopathology; human papillomavirus; koilocytes; oral squamous cell carcinoma; polymerase chain reaction