The escalation of  incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (SCCOP) is caused by a virus: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The disease is now the most common type of head and neck cancer in Denmark. It is a relatively new disease with a significantly different profile when it comes to patient characteristics and survival compared to the traditional type of SCCOP caused by smoking and alcohol consumption. HPV-associated SCCOP affects primarily patients that are younger, healthier and more educated than patients affected by non-HPV associated SCCOP and they have a better prognosis.

Societal costs associated with diagnosis, treatment and survival of HPV-associated SCCOP are poorly understood.

We aim to investigate the socioeconomic consequences associated with diagnostic work-up, treatment and survival of SCCOP in an era where HPV-driven disease has been a significant game changer