Epidemiology of Oral Cancer in Taiwan: A Population-Based Cancer Registry Study

Abstract

Oral cancer (OC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and its incidence has regional differences. In this study, the cancer registry database obtained from 1980 to 2019 was used to analyze the characteristic of incidence of OC by average annual percentage change (AAPC) and an age–period–cohort model. Spearman’s correlation was used to analyze the relationship between the age-standard incidence rates (ASR) of OC and related risk factors. Our results showed that the ASR of OC increased from 4.19 to 27.19 per 100,000 population with an AAPC of 5.1% (95% CI = 3.9–6.3, p value < 0.001) in men and from 1.16 to 2.8 per 100,000 population with an AAPC of 3.1% (95% CI = 2.6–3.6, p value < 0.001) in women between 1980–1984 and 2015–2019. The age–period–cohort model reported a trend of rising then declining for the rate ratio in men, with peaks occurring in the 1975 cohort, with a rate ratio of 6.80. The trend of incidence of oral cancer was related to changes in the consumption of cigarettes and alcohol and production of betel quid, with r values of 0.952, 0.979 and 0.963, respectively (all p values < 0.001). We strongly suggest avoiding these risk factors in order to prevent OC.

Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oral Cancer: Evaluating Surgical Outcomes in the Presence of Trismus

“…In our study, the trismus patients all had a history of betel quid chewing, which is a well-established risk factor for OSMF and subsequent trismus in Taiwan and other regions where this habit is prevalent [ 6 , 7 ]. To isolate the effect of betel quid-related trismus, we excluded patients with tumors involving the masticator space, as well as those with prior radiation or major surgery that could contribute to trismus from other mechanisms.…”

“…Trismus, commonly characterized by restricted mouth opening, is frequently observed in patients with head and neck cancers [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. In Taiwan, this condition is particularly prevalent among those who habitually chew betel quid, a practice known to contribute to oral submucosal fibrosis (OSMF) and oral cancer risk [ 6 , 7 ]. While the debilitating effects of post-treatment trismus on patients’ quality of life are well documented [ 8 , 9 ], the impact of preoperative trismus on surgical outcomes in oral cancer patients, particularly those undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS), remain underexplored.…”

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Oral Cancers Using Transoral Robotic Surgery in an Endemic Region

“…During the matching process, certain oral cancer sites represented by ICD-O-03 codes C00 (lip), C04 (mouth floor), and C05 (other and unspecified parts of mouth) were excluded from the matching due to their limited occurrence and disparities in baseline characteristics between the TORS and open-surgery groups. Notwithstanding the exclusion of these specific oral cancer sites, the oral cancer sites chosen for this study effectively encompassed the most prevalent sites of oral cancers, both within the region under investigation and globally [3,5].…”

“…Within the specific context of Taiwan, oral cancer also poses a significant health burden. Among countries worldwide, Taiwan has one of the highest incidence rates of oral cancer, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths [3,4]. Being endemic in Taiwan, oral cancer has a significantly higher prevalence among younger males in Taiwan.…”

Areca nut extract increased stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in 4-nutriquinoline-1-oxide-tumor-induced Sprague-Dawley rats

“…8 Areca nut chewing is also one of the favorite habits in Taiwan. 9 Potency antioxidant activity of areca nut has been well established in the previous in vitro research using several oral cancer cell lines. 10 Although some areca nut products such as paan masala (fennel seeds, coriander, sesame, mint leaves, powdered lime, areca nut, cardamom, and pure menthol) and gutkha (chewing tobacco, dried ripe areca nut, paraffin wax, slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), and savory or sweet flavorings) have contribution in pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), several other studies have been carried out to prove the efficacy and safety of areca nuts depending on the type of phytochemical content possessed by the areca nut species from the certain region.…”