ABSTRACT
Viral infections were reported to be the cause of some human malignancies. The exclusive presence of EBV [Epstein-Bar virus] and HHV6 [Herpes Human Virus 6] has been investigated in previous studies. As such comparisons had never been carried out on salivary gland neoplasms, this study aimed to determine any relationship between these two viruses in salivary gland neoplasms. Seventy eight formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples of salivary gland tumors were enrolled. The enrolled patients were those who referred to the Department of Oral Pathology of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and to the state hospitals and private clinics in Isfahan, Iran from May 1995 to July 2005. The paraffin blocks were investigated for presence of HHV6 and EBV genomes by PCR. Out of the 78 samples, 15 were positive for both EBV and HHV6 infections while 6 were only positive for EBV, 21 were HHV6 positive but negative for EBV and 36 samples were reported negative for both viruses. A relationship was visible between EBV and HHV6 genomes. The significant relationship between HHV6 and EBV genomes and salivary gland neoplasms denotes to the question that should be answered in the light of further research whether HHV6 infection in salivary gland tumors can increase the incidence of EBV infection