Detection of Helicobacter pylori in patients with head and neck cancer: Results from a prospective comparative study combining serology, polymerase chain reaction, and rapid urease test

• Published in: Head & neck 2016-05, Vol.38 (5), p.769-774
• Main Authors: Morand, Grégoire B., Fellmann, Jonas, Laske, Roman D., Weisert, Jan U., Soltermann, Alex, Zbinden, Reinhard, Probst, Rudolf, Huber, Gerhard F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - microbiology; Female; head and neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - microbiology; Helicobacter Infections - diagnosis; Helicobacter Infections - microbiology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - genetics; Helicobacter pylori - isolation & purification; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Prospective Studies; rapid urease test; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Risk Factors; Serologic Tests - methods; serology; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Urease - analysis
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.23958

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the presence and impact of the gastric carcinogen Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the upper aerodigestive tract. Previous studies suggested it could represent a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods Serology, rapid urease test, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for H. pylori were performed in patients with head and neck cancer (N = 56) and cancer‐free controls (N = 90). Comparison between groups was done using logistic regression analysis. Results Rates of positive serology and rapid urease test did not differ between the 2 groups in logistic regression analysis (p = .677 and p = .633, respectively). Birth in a developing country and age above 50 years old were predictors of positive serology (p