Immunohistochemical demonstration of human papilloma virus (HPV) antigens in oral squamous cell lesions.

Six oral squamous cell tumours classified as focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), Condyloma acuminatum (CA) and squamous cell papilloma (SQP) were subjected to indirect immunoperoxidase staining with anti-human papillomavirus (anti-HPV) antiserum to demonstrate the possible presence of HPV antigens in these lesions. The results are discussed in the light of the observations on HPV-lesions elsewhere in the body (in uterine cervix), and a suggestion is made to adopt the name condyloma for all those tumours where HPV aetiology can be established by ultrastructural or immunohistochemical means.