Previous Tonsillectomy Modifies Odds of Tonsil and Base of Tongue Cancer

Overview

Journal Br J Cancer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2016 Mar 16

PMID 26977858

Citations 10

Authors

Jose P Zevallos

Angela L Mazul

Nidia Rodriguez

Mark C Weissler

Paul Brennan

Devasena Anantharaman

Behnoush Abedi-Ardekani

D Neil Hayes

Andrew F Olshan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed surgical procedure that involves removal of the palatine tonsils. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between previous tonsillectomy and odds of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in a large population-based case-control study. We hypothesise that previous tonsillectomy is associated with a decreased odds of tonsil cancer with no impact on the odds of developing base of tongue (BOT) cancer.

Methods: This was a population-based, frequency-matched case-control study with multinomial logistic regression, including 1378 controls, 108 BOT cancer cases, and 198 tonsil cancer cases. Demographic and risk factor data were collected using a structured questionnaire during an in-home visit conducted by trained nurse-interviewers. The human papillomavirus (HPV) tumour status was determined through Luminex-based multiplex PCR and p16 status by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Previous tonsillectomy was associated with a nearly two-fold increased odds of BOT cancer (OR=1.95, 95% CI 1.25-3.06, P=0.003) and a large decrease in the odds of tonsil cancer (OR=0.22, 95% CI 0.13-0.36, P<0.001). When HPV status was considered, tonsillectomy was associated with a decreased odds of HPV-positive tonsil cancer (OR=0.17, 95% CI 0.08-0.34, P<0.001) and an increased risk of HPV-positive BOT cancer (OR=2.46, 95% CI 1.22-4.95, P=0.012). When p16 status was considered, tonsillectomy was associated with an increased odds of p16-positive BOT cancer (OR=2.24, 95% CI 1.16-4.35, P=0.017) and a decreased odds of p16-positive tonsil cancer (OR=0.14, 95% CI 0.07-0.31, P<0.001).

Conclusions: Previous tonsillectomy modifies the odds of both tonsil and BOT cancer, with decreased odds of tonsil cancer and increased odds of BOT cancer. A history of previous tonsillectomy may play a role in OPSCC risk stratification when considered along with other covariates such as sexual history, smoking status, and age.

Citing Articles

Association between tonsillectomy and risk of oropharyngeal cancer: a systematic review.

Bai C, He M, Li S, Liu J, Zhong L, Chen F Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2024; 44(3):143-149.

PMID: 38712770 PMC: 11166217. DOI: 10.14639/0392-100X-N2790.

Association of Human Papillomavirus Infection with Tonsillar Cancers: A Systematic Review.

Sethi S, Shahin A, Rahim I Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024; 76(1):268-276.

PMID: 38440648 PMC: 10908725. DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-04140-2.

Establishment of a Prognostic Nomogram for Cancer-Specific Survival in Patients With Base-of-Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study Based on the SEER Database.

Lin Z, Huang L, Lin Y, Luo R, Wang S, Lyu J Cancer Control. 2023; 30:10732748231210733.

PMID: 37969067 PMC: 10655788. DOI: 10.1177/10732748231210733.

Cancer risk following surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids - a population-based, sibling-controlled cohort study in Sweden.

Liang J, Huang Y, Yin L, Sadeghi F, Yang Y, Xiao X BMC Med. 2023; 21(1):194.

PMID: 37226237 PMC: 10210283. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02902-x.

Association between tonsillectomy and oropharyngeal cancer risk: a retrospective cohort study.

Alharbi H, Saleh W, Yue S, Fernandes R Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2023; 28(1):299-305.

PMID: 36790567 DOI: 10.1007/s10006-023-01139-5.

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