In situ hybridization of papillomavirus DNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Cytospin preparations of fine-needle aspirates obtained from five squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (four metastatic in lymph nodes and one primary) were tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes 6, 11, 16, and 18 by in situ hybridization using biotinylated DNA probes. All five carcinomas showed hybridization with HPV-11, four strongly reactive, and one also weakly hybridized with HPV-16. Genotypes 6 and 18 showed no evidence of hybridization.