Prognosis is determined by various factors such as stage, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) status, Lymph infiltration of cancer cells, spread of cancer cells beyond the lymph node capsule, margins of the tumor and the extent of metastasis. Many factors are unique to each individual patient and may affect the chances of success of the treatment. Factors determining the prognosis of tonsillar<unk>  are as follows: HPV status Tonsillar<unk>  can be either HPV related or HPV unrelated. It is shown that cases which are HPV positive have a better prognosis than those with HPV negative oropharyngeal cancer. Stage The stage at which the cancer presents itself affects the type of definitive treatment, chance of cure, recurrence of cancer and survival rate of the patient. Generally the patient presents very late due to the lack of definitive symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Nearly three fourths of the patients present in Stage III or later. The stages of oropharyngeal cancer are as follows: • Stage 0<unk>  in situ): This stage indicates a good prognosis as most patients with stage 0 survive for a long period without the requirement of an intensive treatment. Although, the patient must cease smoking as it can increase the risk of developing a new cancer. • Stage I and II: Most patients presenting at this stage receive successful treatment, showing a good prognosis. The modes of treatment for this stage include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy or chemoradiation. The main treatment at this stage is radiation, targeting the tumor and the cervical lymph nodes. Surgical removal of the tumor and lymphadenectomy of the cervical (neck) lymph nodes can also be taken up at the main treatment method instead of radiation. And remaining cancer cells post surgery are treated with chemoradiation. • Stage III and IVA: In this stage the cancer cells metastasize into the local tissues and cervical lymph nodes. The treatment used in these cases is chemo radiation. Any remaining cancer cells post chemoradiation are surgically removed. Lymphadenectomy may also be done after treatment with chemoradiation if the cancer cells have infiltrated the cervical lymph nodes. Another method of treatment includes, first, surgical removal of tumor as well as cervical lymph nodes followed by chemoradiation or radiation to decrease the chances of recurrence. • Stage IVB: In this stage the cancer has already undergone distant metastasis, hence showing poor prognosis. The treatment includes chemotherapy, cetuximab or both. Radiation may be used to aid in relieving symptoms arising from the cancer and also to prevent further development of complications. Lymphatic infiltration Nearly half of the patients with anterior pillar lesions and three fourths of the patients with tonsillar fossa lesions have nodal metastasis at the time of presentation itself. Metastasis of cancer cells to cervical lymph nodes diminishes the chance of cure. Specially, if there is evidence of metastasis of cancer cells beyond the lymph node capsule. Though, some data indicates that the metastasis of cancer cells outside the lymph node capsule is a bad prognosis for HPV-unrelated oropharynx cancer than it is for HPV-related oropharynx. Tumor extension Extension of the tumor to the base of tongue reduces the chances of cure drastically. It also increases the chances of recurrence after treatment Metastasis Spread of cancer cells to local structures like tissues, vessels, large nerves and lymphatics worsens a patient's prognosis. A study that analyzed the survival rate in HPV-related oropharynx<unk>  to that in HPV-unrelated oropharynx<unk> . The study revealed that based on the HPV status of the patient, for STAGE III and STAGE IV oropharynx<unk> , there was a discrepancy in survival after three years. The survival was 82% in HPV positive and then also 57% in HPV negative cancers.
Tonsil carcinoma
Laryngeal cyst
Laryngeal papillomatosis
Laryngeal cancer
Peritonsillar abscess
Oropharyngeal cancer
Nasopharyngeal cyst
Adenoiditis