[The role of human papillomavirus in the pathogenesis of papillomas of the upper aero-digestive tract].

The term 'papilloma' is used to describe a highly diverse group of exophytic pathologic lesions in the upper aero-digestive tract. These lesions differ according to anatomic site, constituent epithelium and endoscopic appearance. The varying pathogenesis of papillomas is incompletely understood, but appears to be related both to host factors, e.g. regional differences in the susceptibility of epithelial cells, and to a number of cofactors. Among the cofactors already identified, the human papilloma virus is increasingly recognized as playing an important role in the pathogenesis of laryngeal papillomata and some specific oral proliferative lesions. The systematic identification and characterization of human papilloma viruses in tissues from papillomas will provide the basis for a better understanding of the potential pathogenetic role of these viruses in the development of benign and malignant proliferation in the upper aero-digestive tract.