Oral human papillomavirus infection amplifies the risk for oropharyngeal cancer. Human papillomavirus-associated cancers in otorhinolaryngology have typical characteristics.

To improve understanding of management, therapy and prognosis of patients with oropharyngeal human papillomavirus-associated cancers a systematic review of the literature was reported. Medline, The Cochrane Library, Embase and Scielo electronic databases were searched. The search included published articles up to December 2006. A wide search strategy was employed in order to avoid publication biases and to assess studies in which the main aspects concerning oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and human papillomavirus management are analyzed.

A total of 120 articles were identified, of which 16 matched the inclusion criteria.

Patients with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancers have distinctive risk factors such as a high number of sex partners. They are typically younger, nonusers of tobacco and alcohol and have a better prognosis.