Introduction HPV-associated oropharyngeal carcinoma is considered a distinct tumor entity. While
increasing incidences and strong regional differences have been widely described,
studies on the national incidence trend are lacking.
Material and Methods In the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University Hospital of Cologne 539
patients with OPSCC were treated between 2004 and 2020. Diagnostics regarding p16
status and HPV DNA were performed. Here, we investigate the incidence trend of HPV-associated
OPSCC considering demographic data, nicotine and alcohol consumption and 5-year survival
of patients.
Results There was a significant increase in the proportion of HPV-associated OPSCC in the
total number of OPSCC treated, with 73% showing dichotomous positivity in 2020. HPV
subtype 16 was detectable in 87.8% of HPV-associated cases. Furthermore, there was
a significant difference in terms of risk profile (significantly lower nicotine and
alcohol consumption in HPV-associated OPSCC) and in terms of 5-year survival (71.2%
in HPV-associated OPSCC vs. 36.3% in HPV-negative OPSCC). There was no age difference
and no difference regarding gender distribution.
Discussion The results confirm the incidence trend of HPV-associated OPSCC reported in the literature.
It is worth mentioning that in the present evaluation, only dichotomously positive
OPSCC were considered HPV-associated. In the current TNM classification only p16 positivity
is assessed.