BACKGROUND: Verrucous carcinoma is a slowly growing, well-differentiated neoplasm with a predilection for the oral cavity. OBJECTIVE: Data on the association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with oral verrucous carcinoma are very scarce. We searched for the presence of HPV in different stages of the tumour in a patient repeatedly treated by means of surgery, cryotherapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy over a decade. METHODS: HPV DNA was detected in archival tumour tissue by nested PCR. HPV types were identified based on restriction fragment analysis. RESULTS: HPV type 11 was found in 1 early-stage and HPV 16 in 2 late-stage biopsy specimens of the tumour. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide further evidence for a role of HPV in oral verrucous carcinoma. The case history emphasizes the importance of a joint clinicopathological approach to this tumour.