Epidemiology, clinical features and treatment of lip cancers in Senegal

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Lip cancers are uncommon among black people but not unusual. The objectives of this study were to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of lip cancers at ENT Department of National University Hospital of Fann in Dakar, Senegal. Patients and methods. We performed a retrospective and descriptive study at ENT Department of Fann teaching Hospital in Dakar, Senegal, over a period of seven years, among patients with lip cancers confirmed by the pathology. The following data were studied age, gender, past medical history, alcohol and tobacco intake, oral hygiene, the location of the lesions and their extensions, pathological findings, TNM classification, postoperative complications and mortality. Results. 19 cases were collected. The mean age of patients was 51 years, with a sex ratio of 1.4. Bad oral hygiene was the main risk factor followed by prolonged sunlight exposure. The lower lip was the main location of the lesion (73.7%). The budding ulcerative appearance was predominant (73.68%). Squamous cell carcinoma was found in all our patients. 68.42% of our patients were classified T3-T4. 63.15% of our patients underwent surgical resection of the tumor. The most common technique of reconstruction was Estlander flap (25%). Morbidity and mortality were respectively 50% and 31.6%. The global survival rate at one and three years was 85.7%. Conclusion. Lips cancers are relatively uncommon tumors in the black people. In our context, patients consult at advanced stages, making their treatment more difficult