Purpose of review: The role of HPV in oropharyngeal cancer is well recognized. HPV DNA is also found in a fraction of head and neck tumors outside of oropharynx but its clinical importance is unknown. The purpose of this review is to sum up the present knowledge about the prevalence and possible impact of HPV presence in head and neck tumors in nonoropharyngeal sites.
Recent findings: The data demonstrating prevalence of HPV presence in tumors outside of oropharynx are inconsistent. However, it can be stated that it is substantially lower than in oropharynx. Most articles report the HPV DNA presence only but very few prove also the transcriptionally active viral presence. The fraction of really HPV-induced tumors is probably very small. The majority of literature shows no impact of HPV on prognosis in nonoropharyngeal locations. Also the role of high-risk HPV in malignant transformation of lesions potentially linked to malignancy like inverted papillomas, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis or laryngeal dysplasia was up to date not demonstrated.
Summary: Despite of the unknown role of HPV and lack of evidence regarding any clinical use of HPV knowledge in other than oropharyngeal tumors, further research is warranted.