Oral squamous cell carcinoma: a clinicopathological study of 467 cases at afip Rawalpindi, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinicopathological and demographical characteristics of histologically diagnosed cases of oral SCC. Evaluation is based on age, gender, site of tumor and histological differentiation. Histologically diagnosed cases of oral SCC during a period of 3 years [Jan 2007 - Dec 2009] were retrieved from the tumor records of Department of Histopathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Biopsy specimens at the institute are obtained from Armed Forces as well as public and private sector hospitals including the review cases for second opinion. All the cases were subjected to the analysis of age, gender distribution, site of tumor occurrence and grade of histological differentiation. Out of a total of 12611 tumors recorded at AFIP Tumor registry, 467 cases of oral neoplasms were diagnosed as SCC [3.7%]. Among head and neck tumors recorded in the study period, oral SCC comprises 32.9% of the total. The mean age [ +/- standard deviation] of patients was 55.9 +/- 13.3 years [range, 5-90 years] with a male predominance [52.5%], yielding male to female ratio of 1.11. Peak incidence is found in 60 years of age. Most common site was buccal mucosa [29.8%] followed by tongue [23.1%] and mandible [13.5%]. Most common histological grade was well differentiated [67.5%] followed by moderately differentiated [26.8%] and poorly differentiated [5.8%] histological subtypes. Oral SCC is the most common malignancy of head and neck region in our community with peak incidence in comparatively older age group. There is an overall male predominance except in younger age group, where it is more common in females. Most common site of tumor is buccal mucosa. The well differentiated grade is the most common histological type of differentiation