Oral cancer. Risk factors and change in epidemiological trend

Resumen

Introduction: Oral cancer continues to be one of the causes of increased morbidity and mortality in the world. With an incidence of approximately 377 thousand cases and a mortality of 177 thousand in 2020, being oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) the most frequent. This neoplasia predominantly affects men and its incidence increases with age. Up to age 80, men have a 40.9% risk of developing cancer and women 27.0%. At age 85, this risk is increased to 49.1% in men and 31.8% in women. Objective: To know the profile of the patient with oral cancer related to sex and age, and to identify the possible etiopathogenic factors related to the appearance of this neoplastic process. Material and method: An observational, descriptive and retrospective study is carried out in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the Ramon y Cajal University Hospital in the period between 2004 and 2020. This study has been approved by the research ethics committee of the aforementioned hospital. Results: Our sample has been made up of 46 men and 40 women. All of them suffer OSCC and have an average age of 66 years ± 14.0 years (66.37; 95% CI). Most of the patients in the sample have been from 60 to 80 years. The most relevant risk factors as predictors of this disease have been tobacco and alcohol. The most common places for oral carcinoma have been the tongue, the jugal mucosa and the floor of the mouth, in women the most frequent localization is in the tongue (57.14% vs 42.85%), the alveolar ridge (54.54% vs 45.45%) and maxillary tuberosity (100% vs 0%). Conclusions: The profile of the patient suffering from oral cancer is beginning to change toward younger populations, finding it more often in women. The youngest patient with OSCC was 35 years old. Men continue to present more OSCC cases (53.5%), but women are approaching OSCC prevalence, and in some locations, they are already ahead. Risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol are shown to be positive predictors of oral cancer risk.