Four hundred and twenty-six cases of verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity were detected jointly by the per cent of 7988 primary malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity detected during the period. There were 276 men and 150 women with an average age of 67.5 years. The maximum incidence was noted in the sixth decade of life. The highest incidence was observed in the buccal mucosa, followed by tongue, alveolus, and lips. These patients had no associated malignancies but leukoplakia was observed consistently in all cases. All had chewing and/or smoking habits. Most of the patients were treated surgically. Twenty-six patients reporting back with recurrence were given radiotherapy and followed for a period of 30 months. Among the 26, 18 patients showed recurrence at the local site. Surgery seems to be the treatment of choice for verrucous carcinoma. The aetiopathogenesis of the tumour is discussed.

Cell-mediated and humoral immune responses were assessed in 50 patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and the results were compared with those of 50 patients with oral-leukoplakia, 50 oral cancer patients, and 50 normal healthy adult controls. The number of high-affinity rosette-forming cells (HARFC) was found to be significantly decreased in OSMF and oral cancer, whereas the number of total rosette-forming cells (TRFC) remained unaltered. Levels of serum IgA, IgD, and IgE were found to be elevated both in OSMF and oral cancer. Immunologic derangements were found to be more pronounced in oral cancer than in OSMF. The enumeration of HARFC along with the estimation of serum levels of IgA, IgD, and IgE indicates that OSMF can be an intermediary stage in the malignant transformation of a normal cell, and that these parameters may serve as markers for the early detection of oral cancer.

Serum levels of copper and zinc were analysed in 50 patients with oral cancer, 50 patients with oral leucoplakia, and 50 patients with oral submucous fibrosis, and the values were compared with those of 50 normal healthy adult controls. There was a significant reduction in the serum copper and zinc levels in both oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer. The copper/zinc ratio was found to be elevated in oral submucous fibrosis and depressed in oral cancer. The ratio may serve as a good indicator for the early detection of oral cancer.