Gingival Squamous Cell Carcinoma Predicted to Originate From the Gingival Sulcular Epithelium in a Young Female: A Report of a Rare Case

Abstract

Oral cancer is a disease primarily in older adults and extremely rare in young adults. Risk factors for oral cancer are irritants such as tobacco smoke and alcohol and chronic mechanical irritants but mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis in young adults are unclear because of less exposure to their risk factors. Herein, we report a rare case of gingival squamous cell carcinoma in a 19-year-old female patient, in whom the tumor predictably originated in the gingival sulcular epithelium. Histopathological examination of the resected tissue showed a cancer cell nest invading from the gingival sulcular epithelium without a breakdown of the basement membrane of the marginal gingival epithelium. Six years after the surgery, no recurrence or metastasis has been detected.

High incidence of HPV infection in minors with oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…OSCC is the predominant malignant tumor in the oral cavity, constituting almost 90% of all oral malignancies [ 17 ]. Its incidence is highest among individuals aged 60–80 years, with a slightly higher prevalence in males [ 87 ]. The occurrence rate is significantly lower in individuals aged ≤ 40 years and even lower in those aged ≤ 15 years.…”