Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?

British Journal of General Practice, November 2014 e742 BaCkground Oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) is an uncommon cancer of the head and neck region but with a growing incidence. Patients usually present after the fourth decade of life with chronic, persistent symptoms including non-tender cervical lymphadenopathy, chronic sore throat, ear pain, difficulty swallowing, pain on swallowing, and a change in voice quality. However, in our region, we have noticed that a significant number of patients with OPC have presented to their GPs and been diagnosed and treated as having acute tonsillitis. In this article, we review these cases, contrast the clinical features of OPC and acute tonsillitis, and alert other doctors to this issue.