Clinical characteristics of HPV associated versus non-HPV associated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC)

Clinical characteristics	HPV status
Clinical characteristics	HPV associated HNSCC	Non-HPV associated HNSCC
Age at diagnosis	Younger as well as older patients	Older patients (median 61 years)
Sex	Male > female (4:1)	Male > female (3:1)
Anatomic location	Palatine tonsil Base of tongue Soft palate Nasopharynx (occasionally) Less likely to involve oral cavity, larynx, or hypopharynx	Oral cavity Oropharynx Larynx Hypopharynx
Exposures	Higher frequency of nonsmokers of tobacco, and less alcohol use Marijuana use Increased number of sexual partners or higher frequency of oral sex	Smoking Smokeless tobacco (eg, snuff, chewing tobacco) Alcohol use
Presenting signs and symptoms	Asymptomatic neck mass Patients typically lack symptoms such as odynophagia or otalgia	Dysphagia Hoarseness Pain Odynophagia Otalgia Obstructive sleep apnea Neck mass Weight loss Hemoptysis Airway obstruction
Primary tumor and cervical lymph node involvement	Smaller primary tumors with increased risk of advanced cervical lymphadenopathy	Single or multiple large primary tumor(s) with or without cervical lymphadenopathy

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