Clinico-Epidemiological Study of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma- A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Care Centre in Chennai

Abstract

BACKGROUND Oral Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for most head and neck cancers. In India it is the 3 rd most common cancer and it is one of the major public health problems. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the epidemiologic profile of Oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OScc) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective descriptive study analysis of OScc cases analysed from December 2015 to July 2017 for age, gender, duration of the symptoms, duration of the habits (smoker, tobacco chewer and alcohol consumption), site of primary tumour, TNM staging, histological grading and the findings were formulated to chart the trends in North Chennai population. RESULTS A total number of 67 patients were diagnosed as OScc with the male-to-female ratio of 2.52: 1. The mean age of occurrence was 52 years with the youngest being 28 years. Buccal mucosa (44.8%) was the common site of occurrence. Areca nut chewing (37.31%) in various commercially available forms and tobacco chewing (37.31%) were the major risk habits associated with the development of OScc. Majority of them were in Stage III (44.8%) with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (46.26%). CONCLUSION Oral cancer is one of the major public health problems associated with risk habits. Therefore, oral health care professionals should create awareness among the public regarding the risk habits and its cessation. Prevention, early intervention and follow-up of the patients with OScc can increase the life span of the individual.