The relationship between electronic cigarettes and potentially malignant lesions in the oral cavity: an integrative literature review

Abstract

Potentially malignant lesions can be defined as areas whose tissue is morphologically altered and where cancer, in that location, is more likely to occur. These lesions can be triggered by environmental and behavioral factors, and, in this sense, this study seeks a relationship between electronic cigarettes and potentially malignant oral lesions. The objective of this work is to present a relationship between electronic cigarettes and potentially malignant oral lesions. The search for scientific articles to compose the research sample took place in June and July 2023, using the Medline and Web of Science databases, with an advanced search feature, using the following descriptors: "Oral neoplasm"; "Oral cancer" and "Electronic cigarette". It was found that all articles analyzed in this study showed some relationship between electronic cigarettes and potentially malignant lesions in the oral cavity. It is possible to identify relationships between electronic cigarettes and potentially malignant lesions in the oral cavity. However, studies are still scarce. In this sense, there is an indisputable need for more studies that seek to delve deeper into this topic, as it is extremely relevant to health. Although the evidence is still developing and there are significant gaps in research, the studies analyzed in this review indicate that electronic cigarettes may pose a risk for the development of potentially malignant lesions in the oral cavity. Importantly, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between e-cigarette use and potentially malignant lesions in the oral cavity.