Glottic Carcinoma Can Be HPV-Related Disease in Young Adults

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An increased incidence of glottic carcinoma related to human papillomavirus (HPV) has been documented in recent years among young patients, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology.

Semirra Bayan, M.D., from University of Chicago Medicine, and colleagues examined the incidence of patients aged 30 years or younger presenting with glottic carcinoma in two symmetric-length time periods. Patients identified as having a disease process at age 30 years or younger underwent HPV testing.

The researchers identified 353 patients diagnosed with glottic carcinoma between July 1990 and June 2018. A total of 112 patients were diagnosed from July 1990 to June 2004; none were aged 30 years or younger. From July 2004 to June 2018, 241 patients were diagnosed, 11 of whom were aged 30 years or younger. Ten of these 11 cases were tested and found to be positive for high-risk HPV. Although benign recurrent respiratory papillomatosis was initially suspected before biopsy, none of the patients had received treatment. Three of the 11 patients had a history of smoking, all with less than three pack-years. One of the 11 patients was treated with serial cidofovir injections, resulting in dramatic acceleration of cancer growth.

“This finding further supports the concept that glottic carcinoma is an evolving disease, and it demonstrates the increasing importance of discriminating potential glottic carcinomas in young patients from benign low-risk HPV recurrent respiratory papillomatosis,” the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to Endocraft LLC.

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