Purpose: Oropharyngeal cancer incidence significantly increased recently in developed countries; in 2009 3,031 new cases of H&N cancer were reported in Australia.  In this study, we evaluated epidemiology, pathology including p16 incidence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with OPSCC presented at Gold Coast university Hospital from 2011-2012.  

 Method: Retrospective analysis of patient presented at GCUH Head and Neck Multidisciplinary meeting from 2011-2012 was carried out.  Data including diagnosis, smoking status, site of disease, p16 status, staging and recurrence were analysed.

Results: A total 210 patients with H&N cancer were identified, 39 % with  OPSCC, 23% with oral cavity, 15% with  laryngeal SCC, 10% with parotid tumor , 7 % with  nasopharyngeal SCC and 6%  hypo pharyngeal SCC. OPSCC was more common in males (68%) and smokers (66%). Most common primary site of OPSCC was base of tongue (45%) followed by tonsil (40%). 65% of patients had P16 positive tumour.  50% presented with stage IVA disease and had definitive chemo-radiation as treatment. Approximately 20 % patient presented with stage I/II and III disease. In comparison with P 16 negative OPSCC tumour, p16 positive OPSCC tumour in our study was associated with non smokers ( 57% vs. 20%; P= .009 ), higher staging (74 % vs. 27%; P=.0001), higher nodal status (64%vs 11%; P .0001 ), lower T staging  (42 vs. 57% P; 0.57) and lower incidence of recurrence ( 12% vs. 34 %; P .01) at the time of analysis. .

Conclusion:  P16 incidence in OPSCC in our population is similar to previous reports. Although p16+ patient presented with higher staging and nodal status; had lower incidence of recurrence compared to p16- population.