ABSTRACT
Oral squamous cell carcinoma [S.C.C] is the most frequent malignancy in the mouth corresponding to 95% of all oral malignant lesions. The ultimate aim of treatment of cancerous patients is definitive cure and improvement of quality of life. The aim of this study was evaluating the effects of some risk factors in S.C.C patients. 54 patients suffering from oral S.C.C were studied in this descriptive study. 10 patients were selected from Mashhad dental school and 44 patients from Omid hospital in Mashhad [September 22, 2002 to September 22, 2003]. A questionnaire including patient and treatment related risk factors was filled for each patient. Risk factors consisted of sex, age, occupation, addiction to smoking, either cigarette, snuff or alcohol. Other items such as kind of treatment, staging of tumor and involved site were also included in the questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out by chi-square test. 52% of the patients were female and 48% were male. Totally, 93% of the patients were over 40 years old. 72% of the patients were addicted to cigarette and other tobacco compounds. The most common sites involved were tongue, buccal mucosa and inferior Lip. The main treatment of cancerous patients was radiotherapy. 36 patients received radiotherapy, 12 patients received radiotherapy and surgery, 1 patient received chemotherapy and the other 5 received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this study, 93% of the involvement was observed above 40 years of age. Tongue was the most common site involved [27.7%]. In our study, 67% of the women and 77% of the men had a history of smoking. The considerable point is high frequency of lower lip S.C.C. in male farmers who were under sun exposure. Sex did not affect SCC ivolvement in our study