Frequency and distribution of papillomavirus structural antigens in verrucae, multiple papillomas, and condylomata of the oral cavity.

Sixty-seven proliferous squamous epithelial lesions of the oral cavity were examined for the presence of human papillomavirus whole (structural) virion antigens by a peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique having immunospecificity against genus-specific (common) antigens of the papillomaviruses. A positive reaction for papillomavirus genus specific antigens was found in 18 of 29 verrucae, 2 of 5 multiple papillomas, and 3 of 5 condylomata; common antigens were not detected in 28 keratoacanthomas. The positive reaction was invariably intranuclear in cells having a focal or diffuse distribution in the superficial epithelium. This study shows that a variety of squamous epithelial lesions of the mucosa are associated with human papillomaviruses and suggests that these viruses may play an important role in the etiology of some cases of squamous hyperplasia of the oral cavity.