Clinical characteristics | HPV status |
HPV associated HNSCC | Non-HPV associated HNSCC |
Age at diagnosis | - Younger as well as older patients
| - Older patients (median 61 years)
|
Sex | | |
Anatomic location | - Palatine tonsil
- Base of tongue
- Soft palate
- Nasopharynx (occasionally)
- Less likely to involve oral cavity, larynx, or hypopharynx
| - Oral cavity
- Oropharynx
- Larynx
- Hypopharynx
|
Exposures | - Higher frequency of nonsmokers of tobacco, and less alcohol use
- Marijuana use
- Increased number of sexual partners or higher frequency of oral sex
| - Smoking
- Smokeless tobacco (eg, snuff, chewing tobacco)
- Alcohol use
|
Presenting signs and symptoms | - Asymptomatic neck mass
- Patients typically lack symptoms such as odynophagia or otalgia
| - Dysphagia
- Hoarseness
- Pain
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Neck mass
- Weight loss
- Hemoptysis
- Airway obstruction
|
Primary tumor and cervical lymph node involvement | - Smaller primary tumors with increased risk of advanced cervical lymphadenopathy
| - Single or multiple large primary tumor(s) with or without cervical lymphadenopathy
|