Barbara Verro, Rosalia Gargano, Donatella Marchese, Salvatore Gallina, Carmelo Saraniti
The main risk factors of oral/oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPCs) are smoking and alcohol. Recently, another risk factor has been identified: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This study is aimed to define demographic and clinical data of OPC in western Sicilian native population and their correlation with HPV. A retrospective study was carried out on 112 patients with OPC: 66.96% were males and 55.36% were over 65; 75% smoked more than 20 cigarettes/day; 64.28% did not drink alcohol. HPV was detected in 48/112 patients: 54.17% were females and 41.67% were under 65; the most affected subsite was palatine tonsil. Statistically significant association between age (over 65), gender (female), anatomical subsite (palatine tonsil) and HPV-related carcinoma was found. Our study confirmed a significant diffusion of OPCs in western Sicilian population and the crucial role of HPV. In our opinion, it’s mandatory to search for HPV in biopsy sample to schedule the best therapeutic protocol.
