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The Diagnosis of HPV-Related HNSCC: Recognition of Its Microscopic Appearance and the Use of Ancillary Detection Assays

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HPV and Head and Neck Cancers

Part of the book series: Head and Neck Cancer Clinics ((HNCC))

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck (HNSCC) has long been regarded as a homogeneous disease entity. Important distinctions between anatomical sites and natural histories have, in large part, been ignored, given the uniformity of histopathology and response to treatment. Recent work suggests considerable differences between some HNSCCs that go beyond variations related to tumour site and stage. In particular, a subset of HNSCC is now known to be associated with HPV [1, 2]. These HPV-related HNSCCs (HPV-HNSCCs) occur more frequently in younger, male patients. They occur most frequently in the oropharynx, and are associated with improved clinical outcomes [3, 4]. In effect, recognition of this HPV association has amounted to the identification of a new and distinct disease entity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    William H. Westra

  2. Departments of Pathology, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Justin A. Bishop

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Correspondence to William H. Westra .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oto-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Carole Fakhry

  2. Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Gypsyamber D’Souza

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© 2015 Carole Fakhry, Gypsyamber D’Souza, Rehan Kazi and Raghav C. Dwivedi

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Westra, W.H., Bishop, J.A. (2015). The Diagnosis of HPV-Related HNSCC: Recognition of Its Microscopic Appearance and the Use of Ancillary Detection Assays. In: Fakhry, C., D’Souza, G. (eds) HPV and Head and Neck Cancers. Head and Neck Cancer Clinics. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2413-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2413-6_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-2412-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2413-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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