Clinicopathological Analysis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma among the Younger Age Group Admitted to Tertiary Care Hospital, Karamsad, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Introduction: In India, chewing pan, use of commercial tobacco products, beedi, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and use of snuff are some of the common habits. Although several studies have been focused on aetiology and clinicopathological features of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) in the Indian population but very few studies have been conducted with reference to the incidence of OSCC in a younger age group. Aim: To assess clinicopathological profile of OSCC in younger (<45 years age group of) patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at the Shree Krishna Hospital, Karamsad, Gujarat, India. All OSCC patients (1517) who were admitted in the hospital between January 2015 to December 2018 were included in the study. The case history and biopsy report files were retrieved from the data storage system of the Shree Krishna hospital, Karamsad, Gujarat, India. The tumours were histopathologically graded by cell differentiation into well differentiated, moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated categories. The data was entered in MS Excel 2010. Statistical analysis was carried out using EPI Info7. Quantitative data was presented with mean and Standard Deviation (SD) while qualitative data was presented with frequency and percentage. Chi-square and Fishers’-exact tests were used for qualitative data to check significant difference. Results: Overall consumption rate of tobacco was 91.4% and quid was 62.9%. Habit of chewing quid was more frequently observed in young 297 (71.4%) than old patients 548 (59.1%). In young patients, buccal mucosa was the most common site for OSCC (226, 48.4%) followed by tongue (158, 33.8%). While in old patients, most common site was gingivo buccal sulcus (138, 40.4%) followed by tongue (72, 21.1%). Overall stage IVA (270, 45.0%) was most commonly observed pathological stage followed by stage III (125, 20.8%). Conclusion: The present study indicates an increase in tobacco and pan chewing in young adults when compared to older individuals. Majority of the cases were in the advanced stages of the disease irrespective of the age. Screening programs for individuals at high risk of developing oral cancer including tobacco users are required for early and accurate diagnosis.