Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of HPV-related squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Current ancillary testing methods for determining HPV status

Cory T Bernadt; Brian T Collins

doi:10.1002/dc.23668

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of HPV-related squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Current ancillary testing methods for determining HPV status

Diagn Cytopathol. 2017 Mar;45(3):221-229. doi: 10.1002/dc.23668. Epub 2017 Jan 30.

Authors

Cory T Bernadt¹, Brian T Collins¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

PMID: 28134480
DOI: 10.1002/dc.23668

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a unique form of carcinoma that largely arises from the tonsillar tissue in the oropharynx. These tumors often present with cervical lymphadenopathy resulting in a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Use of the cytology specimen to determine the HPV-status has significant prognostic and treatment implications as HPV-related tumors have a more favorable prognosis and response to nonsurgical therapies. While several different ancillary testing methods are available that have proven effective for determining HPV status in FNA specimens from HNSCCs, there is currently no consensus regarding HPV testing in this setting. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:221-229. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords: fine needle aspiration; human papillomavirus; squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis*
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / virology
Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Head and Neck Neoplasms / virology
Humans
In Situ Hybridization
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
Papillomaviridae / genetics*
Papillomavirus Infections / diagnosis*
Polymerase Chain Reaction