Human papilloma virus-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx in an 18-year-old woman.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated malignancies are considered to be sexually transmitted diseases.

METHODS:

We report a HPV-positive larynx cancer in an 18-year-old female clarinet player, despite vaccination with the quadrivalent HPV-6-11-16-18-vaccine Gardasil (Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, Pennsylvania). The patient showed no evidence of genito-oral infection but showed some evidence for oral-oral HPV transmission through the sharing of saliva-infested clarinet mouthpieces. A right vocal cord lesion of benign appearance was removed via free margin resection.

RESULTS:

Histopathology revealed a microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma inside a zone of high-grade dysplasia that was positive for HPV-45. No tumor recurrence was observed during a 4-year follow-up evaluation.

CONCLUSION:

Benign lesion appearance and quadrivalent HPV vaccine status do not exclude HPV-associated malignancies. In our patient, the Gardasil vaccine did not provide crossover protection against HPV 45 infection. HPV-associated disease may not necessarily be transmitted via sexual practice patterns alone.

• Authors: Michel-André Hotz, Brigitte Christen, Roland Sahli, Andreas Michael Arnold
• Journal: Head & neck (Head Neck) Vol. 41 Issue 4 Pg. E59-E61 (04 2019) ISSN: 1097-0347 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30589154 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18

Topics

• Adolescent
• Biopsy, Needle
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (pathology, surgery, virology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18 (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Laryngeal Neoplasms (pathology, surgery, virology)
• Laryngectomy (methods)
• Laryngoscopy (methods)
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neoplasm Staging
• Papillomaviridae (isolation & purification)
• Papillomavirus Infections (complications, diagnosis)
• Treatment Outcome
• Vaccination (methods)