TNM/AJCC Staging Classification of p16-ve Oropharyngeal Cancers (AJCC 8th ed. 2017)

  • Staging differs for p16 – and p16 +
  • T-staging is divided into p16 + and p16 -/p16 not done
  • Accurate staging is not possible if p16 testing is not available/affordable (“Is AJCC/UICC Staging Still Appropriate for Head and Neck Cancers in Developing Countries?”)
  • Prognostic value of p16 status may not apply to suboptimally treated patients in resource constrained settings
  • T4 is a single entity in p16 + cancers whereas it is divided into T4a and T4b in p16 –cancers

AFHNS OPC guidelines p16-

Index: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oropharyngeal Cancer

Resource Appropriate Oropharyngeal Cancer Guideline Scenarios