The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has revised their head and neck cancer reporting protocol. The goal of this action is to make clinical practice more precise, according to an announcement.
The updates are part of CAP’s 2026 Q1 release. Two protocols are being discontinued, while 11 are new. It’s important to note that this could affect accreditation, according to CAP. The updates cover:
- Head & neck biomarker
- Cutaneous carcinoma
- HPV-associated oropharynx
- HPV-independent oropharynx and hypopharynx
- Larynx
- Mucosal melanoma
- Nasal sinuses and paranasal sinuses
- Nasopharynx
- Oral cavity
- Salivary gland
- Merkel cell
- The retirement of the pharynx and major salivary glands protocols
A description of what was changed can be found here, including the “implementation of Version 9 staging from the American Joint Committee on Cancer in select head and neck protocols.”
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