An exploratory study of human papillomavirus detection in oral rinses from patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Purpose: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is associated with low-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). With HPV DNA testing, the oral rinse of RRP patients may be a useful liquid biopsy, as previously shown in patients with oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods: Oral rinse, along with palatine and pharyngeal tonsil swabs, were collected from seven patients with persistent RRP. HPV DNA detection was performed using polymerase chain reaction, followed by genotype identification.

Results: HPV DNA was detected in five of seven oral rinse samples, but not in any palatine or pharyngeal tonsil swabs. HPV6 was identified in four of the five HPV-positive oral rinses, which was consistent with the RRP tissues.

Conclusion: HPV DNA can be detected in oral rinses from patients with RRP, suggesting the utility of the oral rinse as a liquid biopsy. In contrast, neither the palatine nor the pharyngeal tonsils were reservoirs of HPV in study patients with RRP.