Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) are the most common cancers in India. Association of uncommon sexual practices, clinical presentations & pathology of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in 50 HNSCC patients were assessed and compared with 50 patients having benign Head & Neck lesions in a prospective study. Punch biopsy from the lesion in all the patients was used for confirmation of the diagnosis and HPV DNA isolation by PCR assay.

All HNSCC patients had poor oral hygiene and 28% of them had uncommon sexual practices. 88% of patients were smokers while 68% were alcoholic. Out of 21 HPV positive HNSCC patients 9 (42%) had history of uncommon sexual practices as compared to 2 out of 29 (6.8%) in HPV negative HNSCC patients. Association of HPV in HNSCC was 42% as compared to 8% in benign lesions (p=0.001). 21 of 50 HNSCC patients tested positive for HPV, of which 20 were HPV 16, and 1 was HPV 18 whereas only 4 out of 50 patients with benign lesions were HPV positive, all of which were HPV 16.

It is concluded that the association of HPV in HNSCC was significantly high and significant number of HPV positive HNSCC patients were associated with uncommon sexual practices as compared to HPV negative HNSCC. A larger study is recommended to further confirm this high association of HPV in malignancy and defining role of vaccination programme for primary prevention of HNSCC.

Keywords: Human Papilloma Virus; Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Aetiology; Prevention; Association.

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Abhijeet Beniwal