RESUMO
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have a broad and varying rate of incidence and mortality around the world. Tobacco smoking and chewing, alcohol consumption are the main etiological agents for HNSCC and have been estimated to account for the majority of disease burden worldwide. Over the past 20 years, there has been an increasing awareness about the human papilloma virus (HPV), the necessary cause of cancer of the cervix that has been etiologically linked with oropharyngeal cancer. Often diagnosed at a late stage this subset of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck has an affi nity for the oropharynx and tends to show low diff erentiation histopathologically and better prognosis regardless of the treatment strategy. Th e HPV belongs to the papillomavaviridiae group of virus which can infect the mucosal and cutaneous epithelia in a species-specifi c manner inducing cellular proliferation. Th e HPV can cause active subclinical infection without clinical signs or can also cause clinical infection that can lead to benign, potentially malignant or malignant lesions. Hence, this overview attempts to focus on the relevant characteristics of HPV and its role in oropharyngeal cancer.