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Human immunodeficiency disease in new diagnoses of head and neck squamous cell cancer: are we testing?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2019

K J McNamara*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Shrewsbury, UK
C Fernandez
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Liverpool Hospital, UK
T F C Saunders
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Shrewsbury, UK
F Ahsan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Shrewsbury, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Miss Katherine McNamara, Department of Otolaryngology, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Mytton Oak Rd, ShrewsburySY3 8XQ, UK E-mail: kjmcnamara@doctors.org.uk

Abstract

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus infected patients have a three-fold increased risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The British HIV Association recommends human immunodeficiency virus testing in all new diagnoses of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives

This observational study aimed to examine the current routine practice of human immunodeficiency virus testing in patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and to address the importance of this test in promoting the early diagnosis and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus.

Methods

All head and neck cancer multidisciplinary teams in England were questioned on their protocol for human immunodeficiency virus testing in new diagnoses of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Results

Only 1 out of 30 hospitals leading head and neck multidisciplinary teams (3.3 per cent) routinely offered human immunodeficiency virus testing in this high-risk patient group.

Conclusion

This observational study highlights that head and neck specialists are not aware of, and are consequently not complying with, routine human immunodeficiency virus testing as recommended by the British HIV Association guidelines.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019

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Footnotes

Miss K McNamara takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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