The role of human papilloma viruses (HPV) in malignant and nonmalignant ENT diseases and the corresponding epidemiological burden has been widely described. International head and neck oncology community discussed growing evidence that oral HPV infection contributes to the risk of oro-pharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) and recommended HPV testing as a part of the work up for patients with OPC. Polish Society of ENT Head Neck Surgery and National Chamber of Laboratory Diagnosticians have worked together to define the minimum requirements for assigning a diagnosis of HPV-related conditions and testing strategy that include HPV specific tests in our country. This paper briefly frames the literature information concerning low risk (LR) and high risk (HR) HPV, reviews the epidemiology, general guidance on the most appropriate biomarkers for clinical assessment of HPV. The definition of HPV-related cancer was presented. The article is aiming to highlight some of major issues for the clinician dealing with patients with HPV-related morbidities and to introduce the diagnostic algorithm in Poland.

At the time of surgery for MEC, 54.5% of CLEs presented with abnormalities. The most frequent findings were retraction of the tympanic membrane (30%) and SOM, 22.4%. Also, 7% of patients presented with bilateral MEC. Thirty-four percent (20 cases) of retraction pockets diagnosed at the beginning of the observation period required surgical intervention. During the intervention in 20% of cases (12/59 cases) diagnosis of cholesteatoma was confirmed. At the end of the observation period bilateral cholesteatoma was diagnosed in 12.9% of children.