Exfoliated cells of the oral mucosa for HPV typing by SPF10 in head and neck cancer

► HPV is associated with cancer of the head and neck, particularly oropharyngeal cancer. ► HPV is found frequently in oral exfoliated cells in patients with head and neck cancer. ► HPV was assessed with SPF10 LiPA in oral mucosa scrapings and head and neck tumours. ► Good agreement was observed for the presence HPV DNA and of specific viral types in cytology and tumour samples obtained from the same patients.