Presence of human papilloma viral antigens in juvenile multiple laryngeal papilloma.

Juvenile laryngeal papillomas, solitary laryngeal papillomas of the adult, and cylindric cell papillomas of the nose and sinuses were examined for the presence of papillomavirus antigens by means of immunocytochemistry. By using an antiserum capable of recognizing a common group antigen that reacts with papillomavirus antigens of different species, it was found that half of the juvenile laryngeal papillomas studied contained cells staining for papillomavirus antigens. No positive cells were found in adult solitary papillomas or cylindric cell papillomas. These results strongly implicate a human papillomavirus as the causative agent of juvenile multiple laryngeal papillomas.