Carcinoma of Unknown Primary and the 8th Edition TNM Classification for Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

In the 8th Edition TNM Classification for Head and Neck Cancer, the classification for carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) changed in addition to oropharyngeal carcinomas. The current classification considers extranodal extension (ENE), determination of p16 (surrogate marker for human papillomavirus), and detection of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the new classification on the prognosis of p16‐positive and p16‐negative CUP and the impact of EBV proof.