Prevalence of human papillomavirus in tonsil brushings and gargles in cancer-free patients: The SPLIT study

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is recognized as a powerful carcinogen in the oropharynx, notably in the tonsil [1]. Incidence of HPV-induced oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) has been increasing in the last two decades in high-income countries such as North America and North Europe, predominantly in men [2,3]. However, very little is known about the natural history of HPV infection and related precancerous lesions in the tonsils, and robust epidemiological data are lacking.

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