High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion of the Gastroesophageal Junction Secondary to High-Risk Human Papillomavirus

Abstract

Objectives: Although the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of some carcinomas (eg, anogenital and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas) is nondebatable, there is still significant controversy regarding the relationship of HPV and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).

Methods: All cases were sampled at or near the gastroesophageal junctions in patients with reflux and/or known Barrett esophagus and appear to have been initially sampled "incidentally." Patients were all men, aged 56 to 80 years. None had a known history of other HPV-related disease.

Results: We present four cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion of the gastroesophageal junction secondary to high-risk HPV that have identical histologic features to similar lesions of the anogenital tract.

Conclusions: Whether such lesions are at risk for developing into invasive SCC remains unclear.

Keywords: Carcinoma; Dysplasia; Esophagus; Gastroesophageal junction; Human papillomavirus; In situ hybridization; Intraepithelial lesion; Squamous; p16.