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Panel Presentations

Head and Neck Surgery

P16+ (HPV+) OPSCC: A Surgical Approach to Management

Monday, October 13, 2025
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EDT
Location: 126
Disclosure(s):
C. Burton Wood, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Ryan S. Jackson, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Sid V. Puram, MD, PhD, FACS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Wade L. Thorstad, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The incidence of HPV mediated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) continues to rise, and it is now well understood that HPV related OPC is behaviorally distinct from non HPV mediated OPC. Given more favorable outcomes, a wide variety of methods for treatment are available to practitioners treating these patients. Selecting an appropriate treatment plan involves multidisciplinary communication between surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, and ancillary services such as Speech Language Pathology. Additionally, many patients are being treated more frequently in community settings, where Head and Neck cancers in recent past were treated less commonly. Inevitably, Otolaryngologists in these settings treat these patients with greater frequency than community radiation or medical oncologists and therefore play a pivotal role in treatment planning.

One attractive treatment strategy is the utilization of transoral surgery for tumor resection with de-escalated adjuvant radiation. Numerous studies have shown efficacy with these approaches, but appropriate patient selection is a major driver of success. This panel takes a case based approach to evaluate different scenarios and discuss strategies for evaluating and selecting patients for a surgical treatment strategy. Our panel includes a radiation oncologist, providing a more balanced view of the role of surgery for these patients. Through the case scenarios, we attempt to model the discussion that is conducted between surgeons and radiation oncologists when developing treatment plans for HPV mediated OPC. Given the continued rise of these cases, it is critical that Otolaryngologists have a nuanced understanding of the role for surgery in their management.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Understand the treatment options based on NCCN guidelines for p16+ OPSCC.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Describe the rationale and approach for surgically focused management of p16+ OPSCC.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Appreciate the major DOs and DONTs of p16+ OPSCC treatment, including the role of adjuvant therapy.

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: This panel has been well received over the past few years and offers unique insight for both comprehensive otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons. By including a radiation oncologist, we provide tools to surgeons for conducting thorough discussion with oncologic treatment teams.

Comprehensive Otolaryngology Track Statement :

    Moderator(s)

  • C. Burton Wood, MD

    Assistant Professor
    University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    Memphis, TN, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Panelist(s)

  • RJ

    Ryan S. Jackson, MD

    Associate Professor
    Washington School of Medicine
    St. Louis, Missouri, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • SP

    Sid V. Puram, MD, PhD, FACS

    Professor; Director of Head and Neck Tumor Center
    Washington University in St Louis
    St Louis, MO, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • WT

    Wade L. Thorstad, MD

    Professor
    Washington University School of Medicine
    St. Louis, MO, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.