Introduction

The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has increased in recent decades. One of the most common localizations is the oropharynx. An association with the human papilloma virus (HPV) is under discussion with regard to the incidence and response to the available therapies. Particularly in locally advanced stages, primary radiochemotherapy is the treatment of choice. A varying response has been described for HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal carcinomas. Post-therapeutically, local wound healing for swallowing and speech is of particular importance for patients. The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of HPV on the size of the wound defect.

Material and methods

From 2017 to 2023, 271 patients were initially diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The imaging was retrospectively examined for tissue defects of the oropharynx using computed tomography pre- and post-therapeutically. Locally advanced carcinomas with stages cT3 and cT4 after primary platinum-based radiochemotherapy were included. The volume was determined in correlation with the pre-therapeutic status.

Results

A total of 46 patients with a complete CT data set (27 HPV-negative, 19 HPV-positive) were included. There was a clear difference between the groups with regard to the local tissue defect and scarring evaluated by radiological volume determination.

Discussion

The post-therapeutic radiologic evaluation showed clear indications of an HPV association of the defect area. An influence on scarring and defect size in the surrounding tissue after primary radiochemotherapy can be assumed.

Nein