A pioneering epidemiological study investigating the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of tongue in a Portuguese population

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anterior two thirds of the tongue in a population living in central and southern Portugal, all treated at Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Lisbon, Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG). Study Design: This study was a retrospective review of all patients who had a histopathological diagnosis of SCC of the anterior two thirds of the tongue and had been treated in the Head and Neck Surgery Unit at the IPOLFG (Lisbon, Portugal), between 1st January 2001 and 31st December 2009. The risk factors evaluated were: gender; age; alcohol consumption; tobacco use; prosthesis use and the carcinoma site. Results: Of the 424 cases analyses, 71% were men. Mean age of occurrence was in 5th decade for males and the 6th decade for females, and the border of the tongue was the most common location. Alcohol consumption and tobacco had a lower impact in women, being the most common etiological factors in the male population. No significant association was observed between patients and the use of a prosthesis. Conclusions: In spite of the consumption of aohol and tobacco starting to decline in certain parts of the world, our findings showed both factors still have a significant impact in male population. Further research should be done to determine etiological factors in females. Key words:Squamous cell carcinoma, tongue, epidemiology, Portuguese population.

A comparative analysis of oral and maxillofacial pathology over a 16-year period, in the north of Portugal

“…This pattern was not true for all groups of lesions, as OPMDs and neoplasms were more common in older patients, whereas non‐neoplastic lesions were more common in younger patients. This is in accordance with previous reports.…”

“…There was a predilection for the tongue as this was the most commonly affected site (32.9%), and there was also an association with male gender and age 70-79 years. This is consistent with other reports 4,5,23,24,29 . When we analysed the most commonly occurring lesions according to gender and age, interestingly, squamous cell carcinoma was the most prevalent lesion in male patients and in the elderly group of patients.…”

Oral cancer awareness and knowledge among residents in the Oporto city, Portugal

“…Nevertheless a surprising low awareness of high consumption of alcohol as a risk factor was observed in alcohol consumers. In addition to this, some studies in the Portuguese population report a major role of alcohol as a risk factor for tongue cancer . This may suggest that the role of excess alcohol consumption acting as carcinogens for oral cancers is not being made aware to the Portuguese population.…”

“…In addition to this, some studies in the Portuguese population report a major role of alcohol as a risk factor for tongue cancer. 5 This may suggest that the role of excess alcohol consumption acting as carcinogens for oral cancers is not being made aware to the Portuguese population. Several health promotion strategies are needed in this field in Portugal.…”

“…[5][6][7] Moreover more than half the cases in Portugal are diagnosed in advanced stages, in fact in some centers over two-thirds with regional metastasis. 5,6 The lack of information about the causes and knowledge of signs and symptoms of oral cancer is often stated to be a factor related to the late diagnosis of this tumour. In a national study conducted in the United Kingdom a serious lack of public awareness of this cancer was reported.…”