HPV-Associated Cancer Diagnosis by Age

Overview

Cervical cancer is usually diagnosed at younger ages than other HPV-associated cancers. HPV-associated anal and oropharyngeal cancers generally are diagnosed at slightly younger ages in males than in females.

The median age at diagnosis (the age at which half of cancer patients were older and half were younger), is:

• 50 years for HPV-associated cervical cancer.
• 68 for HPV-associated vaginal cancer.
• 68 for HPV-associated vulvar cancer.
• 69 for HPV-associated penile cancer.
• 64 among females and 62 among males for HPV-associated anal cancer.
• 64 among females and 63 among males for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers.

Note: This study used cancer registry data to estimate the amount of HPV-associated cancer in the United States by examining cancer in parts of the body and cancer cell types that are more likely to be caused by HPV. Cancer registries do not collect data on the presence or absence of HPV in cancer tissue at the time of diagnosis. In general, HPV is thought to be responsible for about 91% of cervical cancers, 75% of vaginal cancers, 69% of vulvar cancers, 63% of penile cancers, 91% of anal cancers, and 70% of oropharyngeal cancers.

Rates of HPV-associated cancers and age at diagnosis among females in the United States per year, 2017–2021

The chart above shows rates by age group for HPV-associated cancers in the United States during 2017 to 2021. The rates shown are the number of females in each age group who were diagnosed with HPV-associated cancer for every 100,000 females. Rates were not shown for some cancer sites and age groups because there were fewer than 16 cases.

Data are from population-based cancer registries participating in CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and/or the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program for 2017 to 2021, covering 98% of the United States population.

Rates of HPV-associated cancers and age at diagnosis among males in the United States per year, 2017–2021

The chart above shows rates by age group for HPV-associated cancers in the United States during 2017 to 2021. The rates shown are the number of males who were diagnosed with HPV-associated cancer for every 100,000 males. Rates are not shown for some cancer sites and age groups because there were fewer than 16 cases.

Data are from population-based cancer registries participating in CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and/or the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program for 2017 to 2021, covering 98% of the United States population.

Reference

Viens LJ, Henley SJ, Watson M, et. al. Human papillomavirus–associated cancers—United States, 2008–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(26):661–666.