Oropharyngeal HPV Testing in Life Partners of Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer: Case Series

Kofler B1*, Schnöll J2, Laimer J3,4, Dudas J1 and Borena W5

1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
2Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
3University Hospital for Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
4Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lana, Italy
5Department of Hygiene, Microbiology, Social Medicine, Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

^*Correspondance to: Barbara Kofler 

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Abstract:

Objective: Human papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. A persistence of an HPV infection in the oropharyngeal region can lead to an HPV-positive Oropharyngeal Cancer (OPC). Partners of patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer are probably at risk to carry an oropharyngeal HPV infection. Methods: In partners of patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer an oropharyngeal brush test from the surface of the palatine and lingual tonsil was performed and examined for an oropharyngeal HPV infection. Additionally, all partners answered a questionnaire on socio-demographic data and sexual behavior. Results: In this study 44 patients with oropharyngeal cancer were included and 21 were positive for a high-risk HPV genotype. Overall, 25 partners were willing to participate, of which 13 were the partner of a high-risk-HPV positive patient. Most partners were female (21/25) and all partners had an HPV-DNA negative oropharyngeal surface brush test. Accordingly, none of the partners of patients with HPV-positive OPC carried an oropharyngeal hr-HPV infection. Conclusion: In this study, all partners of OPC patients had an HPV-negative oropharyngeal brush test.

Keywords:

Human papillomavirus, oropharyngeal cancer, risk factor, sexual behavior, HPV vaccination

Cite the Article:

Kofler B, Schnöll J, Laimer J, Dudas J, Borena W. Oropharyngeal HPV Testing in Life Partners of Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer: Case Series. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2023; 8: 2430..