Updated estimates ofincidence of oropharyngeal cancer in the United States: cross-sectional analysis of SEER data

A cross-sectional analysis using data from the SEER-22 (excluding Illinois and Massachusetts) database investigated most recent epidemiologic estimates of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) in the United States. This study of 103,107 new OPC cases recorded from 2006 to 2021 found that OPC incidence increased, with the sharpest increase among older adults (ie, aged ≥ 65 years). OPC prevalence also increased during this period, with a 5-year survival rate of 69.2%; yet many older patients with localized disease received no treatment. The authors conclude that. Although improved treatments may account for the increased prevalance and 5-year survival rate, localized disease in such patients appears to be undertreated, usggesting that further research is needed for optimal patient outcomes.