Changing Epidemiology, Outcomes, and Testing for HPV-Associated Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Should Routine HPV Testing Be Encouraged?

Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2025 Sep;15(9):985-988. doi: 10.1002/alr.23611. Epub 2025 May 19.

Abstract

Incidence of HPV-associated sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is rising and the majority of SNCCs are now HPV-associated (61%). Rate of pathologic HPV testing of sinonasal tumors is declining, from 61.1% (2011-2013) to 33.3% (2021-2024). Given improved survival with HPV-associated SNSCCs and emergence of novel surveillance methods, routine pathologic HPV testing of SNSCC should be considered.

Keywords: HPV‐associated tumors; circulating HPV tumor DNA; epidemiology; pathologic testing; sinonasal cancer; squamous cell carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / virology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomaviridae*
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms* / virology
  • Retrospective Studies