25000 Cases of HPV-Related Cancers Per Year

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 25,000 cases of cancers associated whith the human papillomavirus (HPV) occurred annually in 38 states and Washington, D.C.,between 1998 and 2003, including not only cervical cancer but also anal and mouth cancers.

HPV is a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different types, more than 30 of which can be sexually transmitted. The viruses, transmitted sexually and by skin-to-skin contact, can also cause anal and penile cancers, as well as cancers of the mouth and throat.

The study suggests a broad need for screening both men and women for human papillomavirus, or HPV, another team of researchers, who did a similar survey, said.

The CDC report says there were 10,800 HPV-related cancers of the cervix annually during the study period, 7,400 of the oral cavity and oropharynx, 3,000 anal cancer cases, 2,300 cases of vulvar cancer, and about 800 of penile cancer. About 600 women per year developed vaginal cancers related to HPV, with incidence rates higher among black women than white women, the report says.

An estimated 11,070 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed in 2008 in the United States, and 3,870 women will die of it.

The report is the first analysis of the largest, most-comprehensive assessment of HPV-associated cancer data to date in the United States, the CDC said.