Association of Human Papilloma Virus with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma – a Brief Review

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes one of the most common cancers with a wide geographic distribution. Its incidence in India is rated as one among the highest in the world. Though the use of tobacco in various forms is widely accepted to be the major etiologic factor in OSCC, Human Papilloma Viruses (HPVs) are now being increasingly associated with the cause of OSCC. Incidence of tongue carcinomas in patients below forty years, without any history of tobacco habits is also being attributed to HPV. Histological detection of HPV altered epithelial cells – Koilocytes – is considered pathognomonic of HPV infection. Here a brief review is done to highlight the association of HPV with OSCC and the methods for timely detection of HPV in such cases.