Oropharyngeal Cancer
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What is oropharyngeal cancer?
The oropharynx consists of the structures in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue, palatine tonsils, posterior pharyngeal wall and soft palate. There are many types of cancer of the oropharynx. The vast majority are squamous cell carcinomas, which can be divided into two types based on human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. HPV-related tumors are caused by HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV-unrelated tumors are commonly caused by tobacco or alcohol. There are about 15,000 new cases of oropharyngeal cancer in the U.S. each year, and the vast majority are HPV-positive.
Often, oropharyngeal cancers are asymptomatic. Typically, the first sign is a lump in the neck. Other symptoms may include:
- Neck mass
- Difficulty or pain with swallowing
- Muffled voice
- Ear pain
- Throat pain or sore throat
- Lump or mass in the back of the throat
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How is oropharyngeal cancer diagnosed?
Many patients with oropharyngeal cancer initially present with a neck mass. Any adult with a neck mass for more than two weeks should see an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon for an evaluation, which is a complete head and neck examination to determine if there is a tumor from which the cancer has migrated to the neck. This may include looking into the throat with a small scope that is passed through the nose to allow the physician to see if there are any suspicious masses.
Tumors of the oropharynx should be biopsied. For select tumors that are accessible in the clinic, biopsies can be performed with local anesthesia. For other tumors, biopsies are often performed in the operating room while the patient is asleep. This permits a thorough evaluation of the extent of the tumor and provides information to plan treatment in addition to diagnostic information. A fine needle aspiration biopsy, a procedure that places a small needle into the neck mass to extract cells, is performed with local anesthesia in a clinic. This allows a pathologist to evaluate the cells under a microscope to determine if the neck mass is cancerous and if it is related to HPV. A complete work-up involves imaging, which may include an MRI, CT scan or positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
Oropharyngeal cancer treatment
Treatment for oropharyngeal cancer depends on several factors, including but not limited to: type of cancer, size of the tumor and location of the cancer, lymph nodes, speech and swallow function, and the patient’s overall medical condition.
Treatments include surgery (minimally invasive robotic surgery and neck dissection), radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation is sometimes needed after surgery. When surgery is not used to treat these tumors, typically a combination of radiation and chemotherapy is recommended. A multidisciplinary team helps provide an optimal plan for each patient.
Scientists are investigating treatment de-intensification strategies to reduce the toxicities of treatment while maintaining the survival outcomes. This may entail reduced radiation and/or chemotherapy or immunotherapy regimens.
Head and Neck Tumor Center
The treatment of head and neck tumors is complex. At Johns Hopkins, our care goes beyond addressing the tumor. Our multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists is dedicated to treating your tumor with your overall health and life goals in mind.
