Year: 2026 | Month: May | Volume: 16 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 260-274
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260530
Association of Human Papillomavirus with Oropharyngeal Malignancies - A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North-East India
Nishtha Das1, Haimanti Sarkar2, Manasi Saha Ray3, Tarun Guha4, Tapan Majumder5
1Medical Officer, Department of Pathology, Tripura Sundari Subdivisional Hospital, Gomati, Tripura, India.
2Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, Agartala, Tripura, India.
3Professor, Department of Pathology, Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, Agartala, Tripura, India.
4Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, Agartala, Tripura, India.
5Professor, Department of Microbiology, Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, Agartala, Tripura, India.
Corresponding Author:Dr. Nishtha Das
ABSTRACT
Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is traditionally linked to tobacco and alcohol use, but human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly type 16, has emerged as a major etiological factor. Data from northeastern India remains limited despite the rising incidence globally.
Objective: To determine the association of HPV DNA in oropharyngeal carcinoma biopsies and assess its association with demographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables.
Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted at Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital over two years. Seventy‑five histologically confirmed OPSCC patients were enrolled consecutively. Tissue biopsies underwent histopathological examination and nested PCR for HPV DNA detection. Associations between HPV status and clinical/demographic factors were analysed using Chi‑square tests.
Results: HPV DNA was detected in 20% (15/75) of OPSCC cases. Positivity was highest among younger patients (67% in 20–29 years) and was significantly associated with multiple sexual partners (p = 0.033). No significant associations were observed with smoking (males vs females; p = 0.91 vs 0.53), alcohol consumption (p = 0.71), or socioeconomic status (p = 0.32). HPV positivity was most frequent in tonsillar (9.6%) and base‑of‑tongue carcinomas (5.8%) and was relatively higher in proliferative lesions (9.6%) compared to ulceroproliferative growths (5.2%). All HPV‑positive cases were squamous cell carcinoma, predominantly moderately differentiated.
Conclusion: HPV contributes substantially to OPSCC in northeastern India, with sexual behaviour emerging as a key determinant. Routine HPV testing, improved vaccination coverage, and awareness programs are essential to reduce the burden of HPV‑associated OPSCC.
Key words: Human papillomavirus; Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma; Prevalence; Public health; Northeastern India