page_title: HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer
section_title: Mechanism
hierarchical_section_title: HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer / Pathology / Mechanism
caption_attribution_description: English: Genomic structure of Human papillomavirus HPV Español: Estructura genómica del virus del papiloma humano VPH
context_page_description: Human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer, is a cancer of the throat caused by the human papillomavirus type 16 virus. In the past, cancer of the oropharynx was associated with the use of alcohol or tobacco or both, but the majority of cases are now associated with the HPV virus, acquired by having oral contact with the genitals of a person who has a genital HPV infection. Risk factors include having a large number of sexual partners, a history of oral-genital sex or anal–oral sex, having a female partner with a history of either an abnormal Pap smear or cervical dysplasia, having chronic periodontitis, and, among men, younger age at first intercourse and a history of genital warts. HPV-positive OPC is considered a separate disease
  from HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer.
  HPV-positive OPC presents in one of four ways: as an asymptomatic abnormality in the mouth found by the patient or a health professional such as a dentist; with local symptoms such as pain or infection at the site of the tumor; with difficulties of speech, swallowing, and/or breathing; or as a swelling in the neck if the cancer has spread to local lymph nodes.
caption: Genomic structure of HPV
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