Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026
Radiation Planning Assistant - A Streamlined, Fully Automated Radiotherapy Treatment Planning System
Published on: April 11, 2018
Human Papillomavirus Testing in Head and Neck Carcinomas: Guideline From the College of American Pathologists
James S Lewis, Beth Beadle, Justin A Bishop
1From the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (Dr Lewis); the Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California (Dr Beadle); the Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland (Drs Bishop and Westra); the Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri (Dr Chernock); Surveys, the College of American Pathologists, Northfield, Illinois (Mss Colasacco and Thomas); Policy and Advocacy, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, Virginia (Ms Lacchetti); the Department of Pathology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland (Dr Moncur); the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexler Medical Center, Columbus (Dr Rocco); the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas (Dr Schwartz); the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Seethala); and the Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Dr Faquin).
Abstract:
Context Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major cause of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas, and HPV (and/or surrogate marker p16) status has emerged as a prognostic marker that significantly impacts clinical management. There is no current consensus on when to test oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas for HPV/p16 or on which tests to choose. Objective To develop evidence-based recommendations for the testing, application, interpretation, and reporting of HPV and surrogate marker tests in head and neck carcinomas. Design The College of American Pathologists convened a panel of experts in head and neck and molecular pathology, as well as surgical, medical, and radiation oncology, to develop recommendations. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to address 6 key questions. Final recommendations were derived from strength of evidence, open comment period feedback, and expert panel consensus. Results The major recommendations include (1) testing newly diagnosed oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients for high-risk HPV, either from the primary tumor or from cervical nodal metastases, using p16 immunohistochemistry with a 70% nuclear and cytoplasmic staining cutoff, and (2) not routinely testing nonsquamous oropharyngeal carcinomas or nonoropharyngeal carcinomas for HPV. Pathologists are to report tumors as HPV positive or p16 positive. Guidelines are provided for testing cytologic samples and handling of locoregional and distant recurrence specimens. Conclusions Based on the systematic review and on expert panel consensus, high-risk HPV testing is recommended for all new oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients, but not routinely recommended for other head and neck carcinomas.
