12^th World Cancer Conference

Biography

Biography: Amitha J Lewis

Abstract

Changing trends in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) gives cue to the various factors responsible for its pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that 4-6% of oral cancers (predominantly of tongue) have occurred at ages younger than 40 years in patients who have never smoked or consumed alcohol, suggesting different etiological aspects in terms of occupational, familial risk, immune deficits and possibly Human Papilloma Virus infection. AIM: The present study aimed to identify the trends in the incidence of OSCC in South Indian population in relation to age, gender, site, and histological grade over the past 26 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The retrospective study included 638 previously diagnosed cases of OSCC from archives of Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology from 1988 to 2013. After obtaining approval for the study from the Institutional Ethics Committee, data regarding age, gender, site and histopathological grade was compiled and statistically analyzed using Chi-square test.  RESULTS: Compared  to the western literature the incidence of OSCC in relation to age and gender were similar. On the other hand the common site was buccal mucosa as against tongue. Peak incidence shifted from 6^th to 5^th decade in cases after the year 2005. OSCC of tongue presented significantly more in younger age group (p=0.012) and were poorly differentiated (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: The shift of incidence of OSCC to the 5^th decade and the predominance of the tongue cancer in the younger age towards poorer differentiation highlights the difference in the evolutionary trend of tongue OSCC.