Related Experiment Videos
Warthin's tumour is not an Epstein-Barr virus related disease
W F van Heerden1, K Kraft, J Hemmer
1Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Background:
The histogenesis of Warthin's tumour (WT) is controversial. A possible role for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been suggested.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of WT from the parotid gland were examined for the presence of EBV. In situ hybridisation was performed using EBV encoded small nuclear RNAs (EBER1/2) probes labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. An EBV-positive P3HR-1 cell line processed to paraffin wax was used as a positive control and a brain section as negative control.
Results:
EBER1/2 could not be found in the neoplastic epithelial cells in any of the tumours nor in the adjacent normal parotid tissues. Individual positive lymphocytes were present in 7 tumours.
Conclusions:
These results indicated that EBV is not involved in the pathogenesis of WT.