BackgroundIn recent years have been observed an increased incidence of OSCC in young individuals. Based on this, the aim this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of all cases of OSCC in younger patients, diagnosed in two oncology referral hospitals, at the northeast region of Brazil within a 12-year period.Material and MethodsData regarding general characteristics of patients (age, gender and tobacco and/or alcohol habits) and information about the lesions (tumor location, size, regional lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and clinical stage) were submitted to descriptive and inferential analysis. Statistical analysis included Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests (P<0.05).ResultsOut of 2311 registered cases of OSCC, 76 (3.3%) corresponded to OSCC in patients under 45 years old. Most of them were male (n=62, 81.6%) and tobacco and/or alcohol users (n=40, 52.8%). The most frequent site was the tongue (n=31, 40.8%), with predominance of cases classified at advanced clinical stage (III and IV, n = 46, 60.5%). The advanced stage of OSCC (III and IV) was statistically associated with male gender (P=0.035), lower education level (P=0.007), intraoral site(P<0.001), presence of pain symptomatology (P=0.006), and consumption of tobacco and/or alcohol (P=0.001).ConclusionsThe profile of OSCC in young patients resembles to the commonly characteristics reported for overall population. The late diagnosis in young patients usually results in poor prognosis, associated with gender, harmful habits and tumor location. Although prevalence is low, stimulus to prevention and to early diagnosis should be addressed to young individuals exposed to risk factors. Key words:Squamous cell carcinoma, head and neck neoplasms, risk factors, young patients, prognosis.

Background: Dermoid and epidermoid cysts are slow-growing, benign developmental cysts that arise from ectodermal tissue and can occur anywhere in the body. Less than 7% of these cysts involve the head and neck region, with only 1.6% of cases presenting in the oral cavity. To evaluate the clinical and histopathological features of dermoid (DCs) and epidermoid (ECs) cysts stored in the archives of a referred Oral Pathology Service over a 48-year-period, and to review current concepts about these cysts. Material and Methods: All DCs and ECs were reviewed, and clinical data were obtained from the patient records. Fourteen cases of DCs and thirteen cases of ECs were re-evaluated microscopically by 2 oral pathologists. Results: Among 15.387 cases, 14 (0.09%) had a histopathological diagnosis of DCs and 13 (0.08%) of ECs. For DCs, ten (71.4%) patients were women, with the mean age of 37.2 years. All DCs were lined by a stratified squamous epithelium (100%), with gut and respiratory epithelium observed in 1 (7.1%) and 2 (14.3%) cases, respectively. Chronic inflammatory cells, melanin, multinucleated giant cell reaction, and Pacini bodies were also observed. For ECs, eight (61.5%) cases were in women, and the mean age was 38.2 years. All ECs were lined by a stratified squamous epithelium (100%). Chronic inflammatory cells, melanin pigmentation, and adipose tissue were observed in the fibrous capsule.