Oropharyngeal Cancer
What is the oropharynx?
The oropharynx is the part of the throat located at the very back of the mouth. The four subsites of the oropharynx are the tonsils, soft palate, base of tongue and posterior pharyngeal wall. The tonsils are the walnut-shaped structures located on either side of the oropharynx and are made up of tissue that helps fight infections. The base of tongue refers to the third of the tongue that is not visible when the mouth is open. The soft palate is the part of the roof of the mouth behind the hard palate. Finally, the posterior pharyngeal wall is the back wall of the oropharynx which is visible at the very back of the throat.
What causes oropharyngeal cancer?
Previously the most common risk factors for developing oropharyngeal cancer were tobacco and alcohol consumption. However, the human papilloma virus (HPV) is now the most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer.
How common is oropharyngeal cancer?
There will be approximately 58,540 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer diagnosed in the United States this year according to the American Cancer Society. The average age of diagnosis is 64 years old, but up to 20% of cases occur in people younger than 55 years old. The incidence (number of new cases) of oropharyngeal cancer has been increasing over time.
How is HPV related to oropharyngeal cancer?
Up to 80% of newly diagnosed cases of oropharyngeal cancer in the United States are caused by HPV. Certain strains of the virus are more likely to cause cancer than others. Spouses or partners of patients with oropharyngeal cancer caused by HPV are not at a higher risk of developing this cancer themselves.
What about the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is recommended by the CDC as a routine vaccination for both males and females at age 11 or 12. It is also recommended to get vaccinated through age 26 years if not adequately vaccinated when younger.
It is important to know that HPV vaccination prevents new HPV infection but that it does not treat existing infections or HPV-related diseases.
What are the signs and symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer?
The most common symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer include difficulty swallowing, a sore throat which is persistent and not associated with an upper respiratory tract illness, a lump in the neck, bleeding from the mouth, muffled voice, unintentional weight loss and difficulty opening the mouth. If you develop any of these symptoms, contact our team at Endeavor Health Advanced Neurosciences Center. to book an appointment with our head and neck cancer specialists.
How is oropharyngeal cancer treated?
Oropharyngeal cancer treatment has changed drastically over the past several years. While traditionally a combination of radiation and chemotherapy was used, surgery has become a more common treatment method with the advent of minimally invasive transoral robotic surgery (TORS). As always, treatment methods are often combined, and the final method chosen depends on each patient’s unique situation.
What is transoral robotic surgery?
Transoral (TORS) allows surgeons to reach difficult areas with the help of cutting-edge robotic technology. The surgeon controls this sophisticated robot to remove tissue or tumor from the back of the tongue, the throat or tonsils through the mouth. This typically results in a faster recovery and fewer complications (such as bleeding, infection and trouble swallowing) compared to traditional open surgery, which requires incisions on the face and separation of the lower jaw bone.
Transoral robotic surgery is performed by highly skilled, extensively trained head & neck surgical oncologists who have undergone specific credentialing to allow them to perform this type of minimally invasive surgery. If you have been diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer and are interested in learning more about transoral robotic surgery, contact our team at Endeavor Health Advanced Neurosciences Center. to book an appointment.