Human　papilloma　virus　(HPV)　has　been　detected　in　some　upper　aerodigestive　tract　tumors,　but　the　correlation　between　HPV　and　these　tumors　is　not　well　understood.　There　is　also　some　controversy　regarding　this　correlation　because　a　large　variation　in　the　prevalence　of　HPV　in　these　tumors　has　been　reported.　To　discuss　the　impact　of　HPV　infection　on　upper　aerodigestive　tract　tumors,　this　review　estimated　systematically　the　prevalence　and　risk　of　HPV　in　upper　aerodigestive　tract　tumors　from　studies　published　between　1982　and　2012.　In　total,　418　articles　were　selected,　which　included　273　studies　on　the　head　and　neck　and　145　studies　on　esophageal　squamous　cell　carcinoma.　The　overall　prevalence　of　HPV　in　the　5,467　head　and　neck　squamous　cell　carcinoma　specimens　was　36.3%.　HPV　was　detected　more　frequently　in　the　Americas　(40%),　than　in　Asia　(38.6%),　Europe　(32%),　or　others　regions　(30.5%).　The　prevalence　of　HPV　was　significantly　higher　in　oropharyngeal　(48.5%)　than　in　oral　(32.5%),　laryngeal　(30.7%),　and　unselected　head　and　neck　squamous　cell　carcinoma　(33.3%)　(P＜0.001).　The　pooled　prevalence　of　HPV　in　the　6,912　esophageal　squamous　cell　carcinoma　cases　was　38.9%　and　it　was　significantly　higher　in　China　(44%)　versus　other　regions　(31.3%)　(P＜0.05).　Meta-analysis　showed　that　head　and　neck　and　esophageal　squamous　cell　carcinoma　are　associated　with　HPV　infection　(combined　OR:　3.58,　OR　for　head　and　neck　and　esophageal　squamous　cell　carcinoma:　4.20).　These　findings　suggest　that　HPV　might　be　linked　etiologically　to　the　development　of　some　upper　aerodigestive　tract　tumors.　(c)　2013　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.