Oral HPV infection, HPV-related cancers more common in men

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, has recently been linked to some types of head and neck cancer that are becoming more prominent in the United States, mostly among men. Patients infected with oral HPV type 16 have a 14 times greater risk of developing one of these cancers, which usually form on the tonsils and at the back of the tongue.
Acording to the study findings, Oral HPV infection is more common among men than women, explaining why men are more prone than women to develop an HPV related head and neck cancer.
The correlation between HPV and oral cancer was only established in 2007, so it is not well understood how to detect or prevent these cancers.

The study was presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.