Virus-associated pharynx tumors in a 16-year-old boy: the description of the clinical case

Abstract

Objectives. The relationship between the development of the number of malignant tumors in children and viruses is well known. The etiological role of the EpsteinBarr virus in the development of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has been well studied. The effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) on the occurrence and development of NPC in children is not sufficiently understood. Aim. The description of the clinical case of the Epstein Barr virus and HPV infection in 16-year-old patient with the consistent development of NPC and oropharyngeal papillomatosis. Description of the clinical case. The clinical observation of the boy who was diagnosed with NPC. The full clinical effect in the form of reduction of the primary tumor and metastases in the lymph nodes of the neck was noted after chemo- and radiotherapy. 18 months after the cure according to the positron emission tomography, combined with computed tomography, with 18F-deoxyglucose we marked the accumulation of radiopharmaceuticals in the area of the left palatine and lingual tonsils. The examination revealed clinical signs of the soft palate papillomatosis. The resection of the soft palate was carried out. The morphological study confirmed squamous cell papilloma. HPV type 16 DNA was found in the papilloma. Conclusion. The accumulation of the information concerning childhood pharynx lesions caused by HPV would help to expand understanding of the most common types of the virus in the paediatric population. It would be possible to identify the groups of risk for the development of malignant tumors on the grounds of the detection HPV types of highly carcinogenic risk.

Keywords

• human papillomavirus
• children
• oropharyngeal papillomatosis
• undifferentiated nasopharyngeal cancer