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Start free with EleplanSquamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx
ORPHA:500478Disease
What it is
A rare head and neck tumor characterized by a malignant epithelial neoplasm with evidence of squamous differentiation, which may arise in association with high-risk HPV in a subset of cases. HPV-positive tumors have a strong predilection for the base of tongue and the palatine tonsils and typically present at an advanced clinical stage with cervical lymphadenopathy. They are associated with significantly better prognosis than HPV-negative tumors, which more commonly involve the soft palate, manifest as sore throat and difficulty in swallowing or a neck mass, and occur in older patients. Smoking and alcohol consumption are important risk factors.
Key facts
- Prevalence
- 1-9 / 100 000 (annual incidence, Europe)
- Age of onset
- Adolescent, Adult, Elderly
- Inheritance
- Not applicable
- Classified as
- Disease
Prevalence figures describe populations, not individuals, and are often estimates from a single study. Where the figure is an incidence or a birth prevalence, it says so.
Genes
ICD-10 codes
Related health topics
Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.
Cross-references
Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Data version 2026-06-23. Available under CC BY 4.0. This is a reference, not medical advice.
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