Oral and laryngeal HPV infection: Incidence, prevalence and risk factors, with special regard to concurrent infection in head, neck and genitals

• Published in: Vaccine 2021-04, Vol.39 (17), p.2344-2350
• Main Authors: Wierzbicka, Malgorzata, Klussmann, Jens Peter, San Giorgi, Michel R., Wuerdemann, Nora, Dikkers, Frederik G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Cigarette smoking; Concurrent infection; Concurrent oro-genital infection; Condoms; Contagiousness; Disease transmission; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck; HPV; Human papillomavirus; Hygiene; Infection; Larynx; Mucosa; Oral; Oral cavity; Oral hygiene; Oropharyngeal cancer; Oropharynx; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sexual behavior; Throat cancer; Vaccination; Womens health
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.03.047

•The majority of sexually active individuals becomes infected with HPV at least once.•Little is known about prevalence rates and determinants of oral HPV infection.•Transmission to oral cavity and pharynx probably occurs through sexual contact.•Exposure of oropharyngeal mucosa to HPV depends on specific sexual behavior.•Specific high-risk groups for any prevalent oral HPV infection can be identified. This review focuses on the importance of oral and laryngeal HPV infection which is present in majority of sexually active individuals at least once in their lifetime. Despite testing, still little is known about prevalence rates, determinants and, especially, the concurrent HPV infection in head and neck, and genitals. The purpose of this review is to clarify some issues of oral HPV incidence, prevalence, and to demonstrate the difficulties in identification of asymptomatic oral HPV carriers. The main premise to take up this topic is the high and still increasing risk for development of oropharyngeal cancer, and potential benefit from screening strategies, education programs and HPV vaccination. Transmission of HPV to the oral cavity and oropharynx is hypothesized to occur mainly through sexual contact. The exposure of oropharyngeal mucosa to HPV infection with consequence of increased risk for oropharyngeal carcinoma depends on specific sexual behavior. Male gender, older age, race or ethnicity, oral hygiene and current cigarette smoking are independently associated with any prevalent oral HPV infection.