Abstract
BACKGROUND: Currently, persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been related in some geographic regions as a risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. It results in the immunoexpression of the p16 protein, which has been used as marker of the oncogenic lineage by this etiological agent. AIM: To correlate epidemiological aspects of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with the prevalence of HPV infection. METHODS: Fifty-eight cases were analyzed and submitted to histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis by p16. RESULTS: Of the 58 cases evaluated, 40 were men and 18 women, with a mean age of 63.2 years. p16 immunoexpression was positive in 46.55%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HPV infection is high in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma presenting in almost half of the cases (46.55%), without gender differentiation.