Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41054361›Full record

ArticleHead & neck2026

Diagnostic Accuracy of HPV Circulating Tumor DNA Following Non-Diagnostic FNA of a Cystic Lateral Neck Mass.

Michael R Papazian, Melanie D Hicks, Kyle Mannion, Meghan Turner, Michael C Topf

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Head & neck, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Michael R PapazianDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0630-4940
Melanie D HicksDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Kyle MannionDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9391-1791
Meghan TurnerDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8621-6168
Michael C TopfDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1022-4417

Funding

Vanderbilt Clinical Oncology Research Career Development ProgramK12CA090625 · NCI · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI Debra L. Friedman, Paula Jill Hurley · 2001 to 2026
$16.9M
Augmented Reality to Guide Head and Neck Cancer SurgeryK08CA293255 · NCI · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI Michael Topf · 2024 to 2026
$645k
NCI NIH HHS 1K08CA293255-0NCI NIH HHS K08 CA293255NCI NIH HHS K12 CA090625
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCystic lateral neck masses in adults commonly represent nodal metastases from HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) or benign lesions. Because cystic lesions are relatively acellular, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is often non-diagnostic. HPV circulating tumor DNA (ct-DNA) may aid diagnosis in these cases.

methodsWe conducted a two-institution retrospective review of patients with cystic neck masses and non-diagnostic FNA who underwent pre-treatment HPV ct-DNA testing. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated based on final pathology.

resultsThirty-two patients were included. HPV ct-DNA was positive in 20/32 (62.5%) cases, all of which were HPV-associated OPSCC. Four patients with negative HPV ct-DNA were ultimately diagnosed with HPV-associated OPSCC (sensitivity: 83%, specificity: 100%, PPV: 100%, NPV: 67%).

conclusionHPV ct-DNA demonstrated high specificity and may complement standard workup in adult cystic neck masses with non-diagnostic FNA. Positive HPV ct-DNA results should prompt further evaluation for HPV-associated OPSCC.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellDNA, ViralHead and Neck NeoplasmsOropharyngeal NeoplasmsPapillomaviridaePapillomavirus InfectionsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiopsy, Fine-NeedleFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPredictive Value of TestsRetrospective StudiesDNA, Viraladult cystic neck massdiagnosisHPV ct‐DNAnon‐diagnostic FNAoropharyngeal SCC

Identifiers

PMID41054361
PMCPMC12796992

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.