title: Keratinizing odontogenic cysts with a spectrum of verrucoid morphology: investigation of a potential role of human papillomavirus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in keratinizing odontogenic cysts (OC) has only rarely been studied. We describe the clinicopathologic findings in a series of OCs that had unusual keratinization patterns and were investigated for a possible HPV etiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue samples from 29 patients with keratinizing OCs were studied for light microscopic features suggestive of HPV infection and by an HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at presentation was 31.1 years; 79.3% of the OCs occurred in the mandible and 46.4% were associated with an impacted tooth. The phenotypic characteristics koilocytes, hypergranulosis, and a verrucous pattern of the cyst-lining epithelium were observed in 69%, 62.1%, and 17.2% of cases, respectively. These histomorphologic features did not, however, correlate with HPV infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPV does not appear to play a role in keratinizing OCs and is not responsible for the wart-like histomorphologic features that may be seen in these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kalpesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lalla
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Electronic address: Farzana.mahomed@wits.ac.za.
authors.forename: Farzana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mahomed
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Shabnum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction