Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in verrucous carcinoma of the larynx.

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from verrucous carcinoma of the larynx was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with consensus primers and by in situ hybridization designed to detect HPV types 6/11, 16/18, 31/33/35. HPV DNA was detected in 17 (85%) of 20 tissue samples by PCR; none of the 20 samples were positive for the seven genotype types tested by in situ hybridization. PCR is a valuable tool to detect HPV and therefore will significantly clarify the importance of HPV in squamous mucosal disorders.