Oropharyngeal cancer, also known as oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and tonsil cancer, is a disease in which abnormal cells with the potential to both grow locally and spread to other parts of the body are found in the oral cavity, in the tissue of the part of the throat (oropharynx) that includes the base of the tongue, the tonsils, the soft palate, and the walls of the pharynx.
The two types of oropharyngeal cancers are HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, which is caused by an oral human papillomavirus infection; and HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer, which is linked to use of alcohol, tobacco, or both.
Oropharyngeal cancer is diagnosed by biopsy of observed abnormal tissue in the throat. Oropharyngeal cancer is staged according to the appearance of the abnormal cells on the biopsy coupled with the dimensions and the extent of the abnormal cells found. Treatment is with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy; or some combination of those treatments.
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer may include:
A sore throat that persists for over 2 weeks
Throat pain or difficulty swallowing
Unexplained rapid weight loss
Voice changes (more hoarse) Ear pain A lump in the back of the throat or mouth A lump in the neck A dull pain behind the sternum Persistent cough Breathing problems Hoarseness or other changes in the voice
Risk factors
The risk factors that can increase the risk of developing oropharyngeal cancer are:
Major
Performing open-mouthed kissing or oral/mouth-genital sex on a person(s) with a human papillomavirus infection (HPV); there are nearly 200 distinct human papillomaviruses (HPVs), and many HPV types are carcinogenic. Smoking and chewing tobacco (see Health effects of tobacco); Heavy alcohol use (see Long-term effects of alcohol consumption).
Minor
A diet low in fruits and vegetables; Chewing paan (betel quid), a stimulant commonly used in Southern and Southeast Asia; Marijuana smoking (see Effects of cannabis); Asbestos exposure (see Asbestos-related diseases); Certain genetic changes including: P53 mutation and CDKN2A (p16) mutations; Poor nutrition; Plummer–Vinson syndrome.
Precancerous lesions
High-risk
Erythroplakia; Speckled erythroplakia; Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis.
Medium-risk
Oral submucosal fibrosis; Syphilitic glossitis; Sideropenic dysphagia (Paterson-Kelly-Brown syndrome).
Low-risk
Oral lichen planus; Discoid lupus erythematosus; Discoid keratosis congenita.
Pathophysiology
The cancer can spread three ways: Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissues; Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body; Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is by biopsy of observed abnormal tissue in the oropharynx.
Stages
The National Cancer Institute (2016) provides the following definition:
Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ) Abnormal cells are found in the lining of the oropharynx. These may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue.
Stage 1
Cancer has formed and is 20 mm or smaller and has not spread outside the oropharynx.
Stage 2
Cancer has formed and is larger than 20 mm, but not larger than 40 mm. Also, it has not yet spread outside the oropharynx.
Stage 3
Cancer is larger than 40 mm and has not spread outside the oropharynx. Any size and has spread to only one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the cancer. The lymph node with cancer is 30 mm or smaller.
Stage 4A
Cancer has spread to tissues near the oropharynx, including the larynx (voice box), roof of the mouth, lower jaw, muscle of the tongue, or central muscles of the jaw, and may have spread to one or more nearby lymph nodes; none is larger than 60 mm. Cancer is any size and has spread to one lymph node that is larger than 30 mm, but not larger than 60 mm on the same side of the neck as the cancer or to more than one lymph node, none larger than 60 mm, on one of both sides of the neck.
Stage 4B
Cancer surrounds the main artery in the neck or has spread to bones in the jaw or skull, to muscle in the side of the jaw, or to the upper part of the throat behind the nose, and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. Cancer has spread to a lymph node that is larger than 60 mm and may have spread to tissues around the oropharynx.
Stage 4C
Cancer has spread to other parts of the body; the tumor may be any size and may have spread to lymph nodes.