Development and Evolution of a Diagnostic and Oral Pathology Service in a Southeast Brazilian State

Abstract

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most frequent cancers whose main causes are preventable because oral cavity is easily accessible for examination. OSCC involves many steps from the diagnosis until treatment which can result in late diagnosis and worst prognosis. Objective: Development and evolution of a Stomatology and Oral Pathology Service at the Federal University of Alfenas addressing early diagnosis and management of oral lesions. Method: Retrospective study developed with the files from 1998 to 2019. Data from all the cases diagnosed as oral malignancies were collected and the demographical, clinical, and microscope diagnosis were included. Results: 270 (84.64%) OSCC were found among 8,952 histopathological diagnoses. The patients age ranged from 24 to 94 years (mean 59.7±13.1 years), and more frequent in the sixth (32.3%) and seventh (26%) decades of life. Men were 2.5 times more affected than women. Most of patients were Caucasian (74.8%), and users of tobacco and alcohol. Over the years, there was an increase in the number of cases diagnosed and expansion of the area covered by the Service. Conclusion: The Dental Clinic (Stomatology) and Oral Pathology Laboratory has been playing an important role for the establishment and improvement of the healthcare system to the local population, mainly in rural areas.

Oral and oropharyngeal mucosal lesions: clinical-epidemiological study of patients attended at a reference center for infectious diseases

“…The prevalence of oral lesions is primarily determined through population-based studies, 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 or studies carried out in dental centers 19 , 20 , 21 or from oral pathology laboratories. 22 , 23 , 24 However, as no standardization in OOPML classification exists, with studies classifying OOPML by a lesion group (e.g., non-neoplastic lesions) 19 or by a specific disease (e.g., oral lesions in syphilis), 25 the reported OOPML frequencies are directly influenced. 26 , 27 , 28 Furthermore, the lack of systematic and standardized inclusion of oral cavity/oropharynx examination in the routine medical examination generates gaps in medical records, 29 , 30 and epidemiological surveys on oral health only provide information on diseases related to dental elements (e.g., caries, edentulism).…”