RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpes virus which causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with such human cancers as Burkitt's Lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's disease, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, the role of EBV as a causative factor in other head & neck tumors is not fully elucidated. This study analyzed the detection rate of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the throat washing samples from pateints with head and neck tumors and non-malignant diseases, as well as from normal subjects. MATERIALS & METHODS: The throat washing samples were collected from 49 patients of head & neck tumors, 52 patients of non-malignant diseases (pharyngitis and tonsillitis) and 24 normal subjects. The EBV DNA was detected by using the EBV (BNRF1)-specific primers & Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). RESULT: The EBV DNA was detected in 25 (51%) of the 49 throat washing samples from patients with tumors, as well as 3 (60%) of 5 samples from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and 22 (50%) of 44 samples from patients with head and neck tumors. The throat wasing samples from 52 patients with non-malignant diseases and 24 samples from healthy subjects were also examined. EBV was detected in 17 (32.7%) of 52 patients with non-malignant diseases and 3 (12.5%) of 24 samples from healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the EBV may be related to non-malignant diseases and head and neck tumor.