Source: www.mdlinx.com
Author: Naveed Saleh, MD, MS, for MDLinx

The incidence of cancers at the level of the oral cavity and pharynx increased between 2007 and 2016, according to a recent report by researchers from the CDC published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. This rise occurred despite respective decreases in the incidence of cancers at various anatomic sites.

Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx make up 3% of cancers diagnosed in the United States each year, with risk factors including tobacco use, HPV infection, and excessive alcohol intake.

“The overall increase appears to be driven by increases in cancers of the tonsil, base of tongue, oropharynx, and other cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, which are HPV-associated, as well as by those of gum and anterior tongue,” wrote the authors.

Breaking down the numbers
On average, the incidence rates for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx combined increased by 0.6% per year between 2007 and 2016, with specific increases as follows:
Oral cavity and pharynx (3.4%)
Base of tongue (1.8%)
Anterior tongue (1.8%)
Gum (1.9%)
Tonsil (2.4%)
Oropharynx (1.9%)

For the following cancers, however, incidence rates decreased:
Soft palate and uvula (−3.7%)
Hard palate (−0.9%)
Floor of mouth (−3.1%)
Lip (−2.7%)
Hypopharynx (−2.4%)
Nasopharynx (−1.3%)

Of note, the incidence of cheek and other mouth and salivary gland cancers remained unchanged.