Background: Cervical epithelium is known to contain receptors for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is a recognized site of viral shedding. Recent cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma have been associated with cervical carcinoma, leading to speculation of a possible etiologic link between EBV and cervical carcinoma.
Methods: This study investigates the presence of EBV in 24 cases of invasive cervical carcinoma (9 adenocarcinomas and 15 squamous cell carcinomas) and 10 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (4 adenocarcinomas in situ and 6 squamous: 3 CIN II, 3 CIN III), using in situ hybridization.
Results: In one case, EBV was demonstrated in infiltrating lymphocytes adjacent to tumor epithelium, but in no cases did the malignant epithelium show the presence of EBV.
Conclusions: These results suggest that EBV does not play a role in the etiology of cervical carcinoma, although further studies are needed.