Risk Factors for Oral Infection with Human Papillomavirus

Human papillomavirus has been identified as a causative factor for a subset of head and neck carcinomas (HNSCC). The majority of the HPV-positive tumors arises in the oropharyngeal region, and at present, the infection of the human papilloma type 16 is the major cause of the oropharyngeal cancer development. Patients with HPV DNA-positive tumors have been shown to be younger in age and are less likely to have a history of tobacco smoking or alcohol use. The tumors referred to the HPV positivity have been proven to more likely confer better prognosis. Seven percent of the population between ages of 14 and 69 are infected by HPV at any given time within the oral mucosa. However, only about 1 % of those infections is associated with the high-risk cancerogenous types of the virus. Up to date few risk factors of HPV infection have been identified including age, gender and the sexual behavior. Tobacco smoking and immunosuppression have also been reported to play a role in HPV infection.