Oral cancer in the UAE: a multicenter, retrospective study

Oral health and self-rated health in community-dwelling older adults in Colombia

BACKGROUND

The relationship between oral health and specific health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or cognitive impairment, has been extensively studied. However, the effect of oral health status on self-rated health has not been assessed. This could be relevant in older people considering that poor self-rated health status and oral diseases are highly prevalent in this population. The aim of this study was to determine the association between different parameters of oral health and self-rated health status (SRHS) in Colombian community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of the SABE-Colombia study performed in 2015. The dependent variable was defined as the SRHS status assessed by the question "Compared with other people, your age: Do you consider your health status to be better, equal, or worse?" We considered four independent variables: total edentulism considering the high prevalence in older people, the GOHAI score to assess self-rated oral health, and the use of fixed and removable dental prostheses as potential modifiers of oral health. An adjusted ordinal logistic regression was performed by each independent variable.

RESULTS

After the exclusion of missing data, 17,945 persons were included in the final analysis. A total of 10.6% reported worse SRHS, 37.6% reported equal SRHS, and 51.6% reported better SRHS. The worse SRHS group was older and had a higher proportion of dependence, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms. The frequency of total edentulism and the lower mean score of GOHAI were significant in the worse SHRS group. An ordinal logistic regression for each independent variable was performed, finding that edentulism increases the probability of worse SHRS, while the GOHAI and use of removable or fixed dental prostheses increase the probability of better SRHS.

CONCLUSION

We found an association between total edentulism, GOHAI Index, the use of dental prostheses (both removable and fixed), and self-rated health status, showing the relevance of oral health status to self-rated health status independent of comorbidities and geriatric syndromes. This result supports the inclusion of oral health evaluation in comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Anatomical landscape of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A single cancer center study in UAE

Objectives

This study aimed to present demographic and clinicopathological aspects of OSCC identified in Pathology service in the UAE over a 13-year period and compare these findings to a cohort of 523 cases of Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using the Cancer Genome Atlas's cBioPortal database (http://cbioportal.org).

Material and methods

Histological examination of all hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides and assessment of all demographic and clinical information from laboratory records were performed on all OSCC diagnosed between 2005 and 2018.

Results

Males made up 71.4% of the sample of 231 OSCCs that were evaluated. The patients' average age was 55.38 years. The two most prevalent afflicted sites were the anterior two-thirds of the tongue (57.6%) and the cheek (28.1%). The most prevalent site among smokers were the floor of mouth, cheek, and jaw bones. There was a link between tumor size and numerous anatomical subsites that was shown to be highly significant. OSCC in the FOM was associated with a 25% mortality rate. Patients with OSCC of the anterior tongue and cheek had the best prognosis, with only 15.7% and 15.3% of patients dying during follow-up.

Conclusion

The present investigation found a correlation between the diverse clinicopathological characteristics of the various anatomical subsites in OSCC. Different anatomical subsites also displayed varying degrees of gene mutation.

Evaluation of changes in Salivary Lactate Dehydrogenase Level for detection of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study

Background

Research has examined the relationship between salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) screening and prognosis. Due to biochemical changes in cancer cells and increased production of lactate products in the body. The present systematic review aims to evaluate the changes in salivary LDH levels in HNSCC patients.

Methods

The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. The data were collected by searching PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2021. The heterogeneity of the articles was analyzed using I² and TAU².

Results

After searching the databases, of 988 articles, 665 duplicated articles were excluded by adopting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. So, 25 articles were primarily selected to be reviewed and evaluated for quality. Finally, 19 articles were selected and analyzed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa checklist. A total of 642 HNSCC patients were reviewed. The meta-analysis showed salivary LDH levels in the HNSCC group were higher than the control group (mean difference = 0.675, standard error = 0.058) (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

As the research results showed, a significant correlation was observed between salivary LDH levels and HNSCCs. So, LDH can be employed as a valuable and minimally invasive biomarker in head and neck cancer screening and prevention.

Evaluating the Clinicopathologic Parameters of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma based on its Local Distribution

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common oral lesions and the tongue is one of the most common areas involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic feature of tongue SCCs based on its local distribution.

Materials and Methods

In this cross-sectional study, clinical data such as age, gender, location, and clinical appearance were extracted from the archives of the Oral Pathology Department, Isfahan Dental School, registered with a definitive diagnosis of tongue SCC during 2005-2019. Then, 34 specimens were selected for histopathological evaluation in a simple random way. The histopathologic slides were examined to determine the grade of tumor malignancy. The data were entered into SPSS23 software and analyzed by Chi-square, Fisher exact, One-way ANOVA, and Non-parametric tests. P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Of the 275 OSCCs, 68 samples were tongue SCC. The mean age of patients was 61.7 ± 15 and 61.8% were women. The most common clinical manifestations were exophytic lesions (42.6%) and the most common site was the lateral border of the tongue (36.8%). The results did not show a significant relationship between the clinicopathologic feature including mean age (p = 0.766), gender (p = 0.338), clinical presentation (p = 0.434), grade of malignancy (p = 0.763) and location. But, among the histopathological parameters, the pattern of invasion (p = 0.047) was significantly associated with the local distribution.

Conclusion

Given that most OSCCs had moderate differentiation of malignancy, identification of clinical features is needed. Attention to the pattern of invasion and location on the tongue can be effective in determining the therapeutic approach.

The Burden of Cancer, Government Strategic Policies, and Challenges in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Review

Cancer is a severe condition characterized by uncontrolled cell division and increasing reported mortality and diagnostic cases. In 2040, an estimated 28.4 million cancer cases are expected to happen globally. In 2020, an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases (18.1 million excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) had been diagnosed worldwide, with around 10.0 million cancer deaths. Breast cancer cases have increased by 2.26 million, lung cancer by 2.21 million, stomach by 1.089 million, liver by 0.96 million, and colon cancer by 1.93 million. Cancer is becoming more prevalent in Pakistan, with 19 million new cancer cases recorded in 2020. Food adulteration, gutkha, paan, and nutritional deficiencies are major cancer risk factors that interplay with cancer pathogenesis in this country. Government policies and legislation, cancer treatment challenges, and prevention must be revised seriously. This review presents the current cancer epidemiology in Pakistan to better understand cancer basis. It summarizes current cancer risk factors, causes, and the strategies and policies of the country against cancer.

Oral and maxillofacial cancer: A 35-year retrospective analysis at a referral dental hospital in Saudi Arabia

Objectives

As rates of oral and maxillofacial cancer (OMFC) continue to rise, the role of dentists in early detection and prevention has become increasingly important. The present study examined the frequency and pattern of OMFC cases diagnosed at a referral dental hospital.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all primary malignant neoplasms of the oral and maxillofacial area diagnosed at the Histopathology Laboratory of the Dental University Hospital, Medical City, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia from 1984 to 2020 was performed.

Results

A total of 242 patients had histologically diagnosed primary malignant neoplasms of the oral and maxillofacial area, accounting approximately 3.7% of the archives. The mean age of patients was 48.87 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. The most prevalent malignant neoplasm was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (58.3%), followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma (11.6%). The tongue and gingiva were the most prevalent malignancy sites, accounting for 19.8% and 18.2% of the cases, respectively. The prevalence of SCC in patients over 50 years old (68.4%) was highly significantly greater than that in younger subjects (31.5%) (P < 0.0005). SCC was also more common in males (66.7%) than in females (33.3%) (P = 0.026).

Conclusion

OMFC primarily affecting the tongue and gingiva was the predominant in older male patients. SCC was the most frequent type of OMFC and was significantly associated with age older than 50 years. This study provides baseline data on the frequency of OMFC cases diagnosed for the first time by dental practitioners and warrants the need for increasing OMFC awareness among these clinicians.

The silent epidemic of common oral diseases among the Arab population: An emerging health problem

Oral diseases are often ignored in public health policy within the Arab world, despite being a prevalent public health problem exerting a significant continuous increasing socioeconomic cost. This review paper explored the current status of the common oral diseases (dental caries, periodontal disease, oral cancer, and oro-facial trauma) in the Arab world through a literature search of the PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Google databases between 1998 and 2021. The literature available revealed sufficient evidence to support that oral diseases are highly prevalent in Arab nations. Collective, multi-sectorial action to reduce and eliminate oral diseases among the Arab population has become an urgent need.

Oro-facial malignancy in north of Iraq: a retrospective study of biopsied cases

Background

Identifying the prevalence of orofacial malignancies is essential to provide health-care programs and services for a specific population. This study aimed to specify the prevalence, clinical and histopathological features of oral malignancies in Sulaimani for over 12 years.

Methods

All archived reports for orofacial specimens from 2008 to 2019 were collected from three major centers in Sulaimani governorate. The demographic data, date, type of surgery, lesion's site, and diagnosis were recorded. The ICD-10 coding was specified for each case. A Chi-square test was used to assess differences between genders. A one-way ANOVA test was applied to analyze the differences in mean age distributions among different sites of oral malignancies and oral squamous cell carcinoma histopathological grades. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Orofacial malignant lesions account for 14.53% of the total sample. Patients' mean age was (55.46 ± 18.48) years, and they were predominantly males (M: F ratio = 1.15:1). The tongue was the frequently affected site (14.8%). A Chi-square test showed no significant difference between genders concerning age (P = 0.118), years of registration (P = 0.28), and site (P = 0.29). The C06 (represents; cheek mucosa C06.0, the vestibule of mouth C06.1, retromolar area C06.2, and other unspecified parts of mouth C06.8) was the most frequent topographical ICD-code (18.1%). Carcinoma was a frequent malignancy (63.2%). OSCC was the most common lesion (56.4%). It commonly affects males, and the tongue was the frequent site (24.1%) followed by lip (17.8%).

Conclusions

There is a slight increase in the registered oral malignancies in Sulaimani city over 12 years; they were predominated in males, in 61–70 years old patients, and being oral squamous cell carcinoma types.

Analysis of THREE-year prevalence of oral cavity, neck and head tumors - a retrospective single-centre study

The purpose of the study was to retrospectively analyze the prevalence of oral cavity, neck and head tumors recorded at our department over a period of 3 years. Retrospective analysis included archival data on cancer patients treated at our department during the 2015-2017 period. A total of 1005 patients with proven carcinomas were selected for final analysis. Cancers were detected by ultrasound, x-ray, biopsy and clinical diagnosis. The mean age of patients was 58.4±19.3 years. The majority of cases (n=264; 26.3%) were detected in the 7^th decade of life. The most common cancers were basal cell carcinoma in 374 (37.2%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 228 (22.7%) cases. The male-to-female ratio was 1.7:1. There was no statistically significant age difference between genders. Recurrence of tumor occurred in 31 patients. The most common risk factor in both groups was sun exposure. The most common sites were lower lip, cheek and frontal region in men, and cheek region and nose in women (p<0.001). Men were found to be more susceptible to cancer development. This study showed differences between age groups, i.e. elderly patients had a much higher probability of developing cancer as compared to younger patients.

Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancers and Possible Risk Factors Across Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Systematic Review

Background

In recent years, there is an emerging increase in the prevalence of oral and oropharyngeal cancers (O-OPCs) across the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Consequently, this review aimed to explore the epidemiology and possible risk factors of O-OPCs in GCC countries.

Methods

Data published after 2008 related to O-OPCs in GCC countries were obtained through electronic searches in Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE and Google Scholar. Keywords related to the association between O-OPCs metrics (epidemiology and risk factors) and GCC countries were used for electronic searches.

Results

The overall prevalence of OPCs increased significantly over time (40-51%) in some countries (Saudi Arabia and Arab Emigrated) of the Gulf regions. The pooled risk factor was 3.4 (2.5 - 4.7). Among the risk factors, human papillomavirus and the use of smoke and smokeless tobacco revealed odds ratio (OR) 3.31 (3.13 - 4.5) and 0.60 (0.45 - 0.80) at 95% confidence interval (CI).

Conclusion

A positive correlation between factors like age, diet, hygiene, genetics, viral and bacterial infection, consumption of alcohol and tobacco products with OPC-MFC is suggested.

Prevalence and incidence of oral cancer in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Oral cancer is common cancer in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a low five-year survival rate. It is among the four most common types of cancer in South East Asia region. In South-Central Asia, lip and oral cavity cancer is the second most common cancer according to the specific cancer types.

METHODS

This scoping review intended to investigate published studies on the current prevalence and incidence of oral cancer in LMICs. The review was conducted applying the search words "Oral Cancer" and "Mouth neoplasm" as the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) major topic and "Epidemiology" and ("prevalence" OR "incidence") as the MeSH subheading; the search was supplemented by cross-references. Included studies met the following criteria: original studies, reporting of prevalence or incidence rates, population-based studies, studies in English language and studies involving humans.

RESULTS

The sample sizes ranged from 486 to 101,761 with 213,572 persons included. Buccal mucosa is one of the most common sites of oral cancer, associated with the widespread exposure to chewing tobacco. The incidence is likely to rise in the region where gutkha, pan masala, pan-tobacco and various other forms of chewing tobacco are popular.

CONCLUSION

This review contributes to useful information on prevalence and incidence estimates of oral cancer in LMICs.

Analysis of oral and maxillofacial pathology lesions over an 18-year period diagnosed at Kuwait University

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to determine the range, frequency, prevalence, and distribution of oral lesions submitted for histopathological diagnosis at the oral pathology laboratory at Kuwait University.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted of all cases submitted to the oral pathology laboratory over an 18-year period. Age, sex, histopathological diagnosis, and location of the lesions were recorded. Lesions were classified into 10 diagnostic categories.

RESULTS

Of the 697 biopsies examined, the average age of the patients ranged from 1 to 93 years with a mean age of 37.83 ± 16.62 (mean ± SD). The most common diagnostic category was mucosal pathologies (N = 205, 29.4%), followed by odontogenic cysts (N = 158, 22.7%) and reactive lesions (N = 97, 13.9%). The three most common histopathological diagnoses were hyperkeratosis (N = 70), dentigerous cyst (N = 48), and mucocele (N = 44). Twenty-five malignant neoplasms were diagnosed, the majority of them in males. A significant association was observed between age and the group of lesions of the oral cavity (P ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides the first set of data from Kuwait that covers a wide range of oral lesions. Mucosal pathologies were the most frequently diagnosed lesions and the majority of diagnoses were benign.

Review of 109 cases of primary malignant orofacial lesions seen at a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Background

Orofacial malignancy is a growing health issue common in developing regions of the world. Presentation patterns are myriad with geographic variations. Advanced stage owing to late presentation constitutes a significant public health burden. The site and type of the lesions are valuable in diagnosis and patient management.

Aim

This study aims to review cases of primary orofacial malignancies at the OAUTHC Dental Hospital.

Objectives

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of histologically diagnosed orofacial malignancies, the relative frequencies, types and site of distribution.

Materials and Methods

Records of patients with orofacial malignancies at the OAUTHC, Dental Hospital over a period of 10 years (January 2008-December 2017) were reviewed, demographic data (age, gender and site), history of tobacco use were retrieved and entered into a pro forma. The data obtained were analysed with STATA 11. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results

Of 375, 109 cases of neoplasms seen were primary malignant tumours, with prevalence rate of 29.1%. There were 71 (65.1%) males and 38 (34.9%) females (male:female ratio of 1.87:1), mean age (48.7 ± 19.3 years) and range (4-94 years). Affected sites were mandible (41, 37.6%), maxilla (39, 35.8%), palate (17, 15.6%) and others. Lesions were mainly squamous cell carcinomas (SCC: 46, 42.2%), salivary gland adenocarcinomas (SGAs, 25, 22.9%) including 8 (32%) cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Others were odontogenic carcinoma (18, 16.5%) and lymphoma (8, 7.3%). Most specimen analysed were hard tissues (n = 63, 57.8%). Thirty-four (73.9%) cases of SCC and 66 (60.6%) cases of primary malignancies were in the 5^th-9^th decades of life. This was statistically significant at P = 0.000.

Conclusion

SCC was more prevalent than salivary and odontogenic carcinomas. ACC and mucoepidermoid carcinoma were two most common SGAs. Metastatic tumours to the jaws are rare.

Oral cancer: A multicenter study

Background

To determine the prevalence and clinicopathologic features of the oral cancer patients.

Material and Methods

Biopsy records of the participating institutions were reviewed for oral cancer cases diagnosed from 2005 to 2014. Demographic data and site of the lesions were collected. Sites of the lesion were subdivided into lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, gingiva, alveolar mucosa, palate, buccal/labial mucosa, maxilla and mandible. Oral cancer was subdivided into 7 categories: epithelial tumors, salivary gland tumors, hematologic tumors, bone tumors, mesenchymal tumors, odontogenic tumors, and others. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software version 17.0.

Results

Of the 474,851 accessioned cases, 6,151 cases (1.30%) were diagnosed in the category of oral cancer. The mean age of the patients was 58.37±15.77 years. A total of 4,238 cases (68.90%) were diagnosed in males, whereas 1911 cases (31.07%) were diagnosed in females. The male-to-female ratio was 2.22:1. The sites of predilection for oral cancer were tongue, labial/buccal mucosa, gingiva, palate, and alveolar mucosa, respectively. The three most common oral cancer in the descending order of frequency were squamous cell carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Conclusions

Although the prevalence of oral cancer is not high compared to other entities, oral cancer pose significant mortality and morbidity in the patients, especially when discovered late in the course of the disease. This study highlights some anatomical locations where oral cancers are frequently encountered. As a result, clinicians should pay attention to not only teeth, but oral mucosa especially in the high prevalence area as well since early detection of precancerous lesions or cancers in the early stage increase the chance of patient being cured and greatly reduce the mortality and morbidity. This study also shows some differences between pediatric and elderly oral cancer patients as well as between Asian and non-Asian oral cancer patients.

Key words:Oral cancer, prevalence, clinic-pathologic features, retrospective study.

Early Detection of Oral Cancer- Dentists’ Knowledge and Practices in the United Arab Emirates

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, opinions and practices of dentists regarding early detection of oral cancer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a simple random sampling technique with a self-reported questionnaire applied to 298 dentists, working in private and public sectors in three cities (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah) in the UAE. Dentists’ knowledge about risk factors and diagnostic concepts of oral cancer, current practices and opinions as well as interest in continuing education programs were assessed. Results: The dentists, aged 23-65 years, were generally aware of the major risk factors most likely associated with oral cancer. Thirty percent of the participants identified the tongue as the most common site on which oral cancer develops. The best known clinical presentation of oral cancer identified by the respondents was a persistent ulcer (87.6 %). Only thirty dentists (9.9%) were comfortable in performing a biopsy in their clinic. Less than half (48.0%) had attended a continuing education course on oral cancer within the past 5 years. The majority of the participants (84.9%) felt that they needed further training on oral cancer detection. Conclusion: The findings of the present study identified several deficiencies in the knowledge of dentists working in the UAE with regard to early detection of oral cancer. Some changes to dental educational and training could be made to improve the confidence and ability of dentists in this regard.

Retrospective analysis of biopsied oral and maxillofacial lesions in South-Western Saudi Arabia

Objectives:

To report the prevalence and types of biopsied oral and maxillofacial lesions (OMLs) in South-Western (Jazan Province) region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods:

This retrospective study was based on the retrieval of clinicopathological data for a period of 6 years between January 2009 and December 2014. These data were obtained between October 2014 and June 2015 from the histopathology records of King Fahad Central Hospital, Jazan, KSA, which is the only referral center for biopsy services.

Results:

Out of the 32149 biopsies received, 714 (2.2%) were OMLs. The age ranged from 0 (neonatal) to 100 years, with a mean age of 46.8±23.4 and a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.3. The tongue was the most common site for OMLs and for malignant neoplasms, in particular. The most common category was malignant neoplasm (38.7%), followed by inflammatory lesions (16.5%). Oral malignancies accounted for 15.8% of all malignancies. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (36.1%) was the most frequent type, followed by pyogenic granuloma and mucocele (7% each). Shammah-associated OSCC and epithelial dysplasia were twice as common in females.

Conclusion:

The number of non-malignant OMLs was much lower than expected in comparison to oral malignancies. This difference can likely be explained by the fact that the biopsies were taken only when malignancy was suspected. The higher rate of OSCC reported from this region is attributed to shammah usage. This study emphasizes the importance of biopsy services for all OMLs and the prevention of shammah use.

Relative Frequency of Oral Malignancies and Oral Precancer in the Biopsy Service of Jazan Province, 2009-2014

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to report the types and relative frequency of oral malignancies and precancer in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia during the period 2009-2014.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pathology reports were retrieved from the archives of Histopathology Department, King Fahd hospital in Jazan. Demographic data on tobacco habits, clinical presentation and histologic grading of oral precancer and cancer cases were transcribed from the files.

RESULTS

303 (42.7%) oral pre-malignant and malignant cases were found out of 714 oral biopsy lesions. A pathology diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (85.1%) was most frequent, followed by premalignant lesions/epithelial dysplasia (8.6%), verrucous carcinoma (3.3%) and malignancy of other histological types (3%) such as ameloblastic carcinoma, salivary gland malignancy and sarcomas. Oral squamous cell carcinoma was predominant in females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.9. Patient age ranged from 22 to 100 years with a mean of 65±13.9. Almost 44.6% of oral cancer had occurred after 65 years of age. Only 16.3% cases were reported in patients younger than 50 years, predominantly females. The majority of female patients had the habit of using shammah with a long duration of usage for more than 45 years. Bucco- alveolar mucosa (52.3%) was the common site of involvement followed by tongue/ floor of the mouth (47.7%) and clinically presented mostly as ulceration/swelling clinically. Moderately differentiated tumours (53.9%) were common followed by well differentiated (32.2%) and poorly differentiated tumours (5.8%). The prevalence of oral verrucous carcinoma (3.3%) was comparatively low with an equal distribution in both males and females. Both bucco-alveolar mucosa and tongue were predominantly affected. Oral precancer/epithelial dysplasia (8.6%) was common in females with a shammah habit. Bucco-alveolar mucosa was commonly involved and clinically presented mostly as white/red patches. Most cases were mild followed by moderate and severe dysplasia. Tumours of other histological types (3%) include 1 ameloblastic carcinoma, 3 malignant salivary gland tumours and 5 sarcomas.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, it was found that oral cancers reported in the pathology service to be a common occurrence. This study reconfirms previous reports of the high burden of oral cancer in this population This indicates that conventional preventive programs focused on oral cancer are in need of revision. In addition, further research into identifying new risk factors and molecular markers for oral cancer are needed for screening high risk individuals.

Epidemiology of oral cancer in Arab countries

Objectives:

To review the oral cancer (OC) studies that were conducted in Arab countries with regard to epidemiology, risk factors, and prognosis.

Methods:

A computer-based PubMed literature search was performed to retrieve studies conducted in the Arab world on epidemiology of OC. After screening for exclusion criteria, cross-referencing, and searching local journals, a total of 19 articles were included.

Results:

Eight prevalence studies found an OC prevalence ranging from 1.8 to 2.13 per 100,000 persons. Oral cancer patients were mostly in their fifth to sixth decade of life, and the incidence in younger age was reported in some Arab countries. Yemenis have an alarming high prevalence of OC among people younger than 45 years. Eleven studies explored determinants or prognosis of OC. Behavioral determinants such as smokeless tobacco (Shamma and Qat), and cigarette smoking were strongly associated with OC. Alcohol drinking and solar radiation exposures were cited as possible risk factors. The most affected sites were tongue, floor of the mouth, and lower lip variations in the affected site were attributed to the socio-cultural behavior of the populations under study. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequently detected cancer, and usually patients were in late stages (III and IV) at the time of diagnosis.

Conclusion:

No solid evidence exists regarding the true OC prevalence/incidence in most Arab countries due to the lack of national cancer registries and population-based studies.

Malignant Tumors of Tongue in Iranian Population

BACKGROUND

The incidence of oral cancers varies from one country to another, which can be clarified by the difference in the distribution of the risk factors and the possible etiologies. Tongue is a main segment of oral cavity and malignant lesions of this region accounts for nearly 30% of all oral cancers.

OBJECTIVES

In the present study, we evaluated the pattern of tongue cancer in Iranian population and compared these findings with those previously reported in the other countries.

METHODS

In this multicenter, retrospective cross-sectional study recorded cases of the malignant tongue tumors in the cancer research center (CRC) of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were extracted. The patient records and their microscopic reports were retrieved from the archives and age, sex and microscopic types were evaluated. It is to be noted that the CRC has been serving as a cancer registry center for major hospitals all over the country since the year of 2003. Thus, the obtained statistics are highly reliable.

RESULTS

During the years 2003 to 2008, a total number of 952 new cases of the tongue cancer were recorded in the CRC. Most cases are diagnosed in the sixth and seventh decades of life. 450 cases (47.2%) occurred in men and 489 cases (51.36%) in women. Four different types of malignant lesions (epithelial, salivary gland, hematopoietic and mesenchymal) were diagnosed. Epithelial tumors were the most prevalent malignancies (93%) of which squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) made up 87.39% of all lesions. Salivary gland tumors had the second place with 3.15% of the total lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

In Iranian population, squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent malignancy of tongue and it is notable that the ratio of female to male population was equal. These lesions were prevalent in the sixth and seventh decades of life. Thus screening examination of tongue by dentist especially in elderly patients is necessary for early detection of cancerous lesions.

A multicenter study of oral malignant tumors from Thailand

Background:

Oral malignant tumors in Thailand have not been extensively studied. Hence the following study was conducted.

Aims:

To determine the prevalence and clinicopathologic data of the oral malignant tumors from Thailand.

Subjects and Methods:

Biopsy records of the Oral Pathology Department, Chulalongkorn University; Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Chiang Mai University; Department of Oral Diagnosis, Khon Kaen University and Department of Stomatology, Prince of Songkla University, were reviewed for lesions diagnosed in the category of oral malignant tumors from 2005–2014. Demographic data and site of the lesions were collected.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software version 17.0.

Results:

Of the 22,639 accessioned cases, 1411 cases (6.23%) were diagnosed as oral malignant tumors. The mean age of the patients was 59.13 ± 17.32 years. A total of 651 cases (46.14%) were diagnosed in males, whereas 759 cases (53.79%) were diagnosed in females. The male-to-female ratio was 0.86:1. The sites of predilection for oral malignant tumors were the gingiva, followed by tongue and alveolar mucosa. The three most common oral malignant tumors in the descending order of frequency were squamous cell carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Conclusions:

This study provides extensive data on the oral malignant tumors from several university biopsy services located in virtually all parts of Thailand. The data from the present study show some similarities with previous studies; however, differences such as gender and site of predilection still exist.