A Prospective Study to Assess the Clinicopathological and Histological Grade of Oral Malignancy and Its Effect on the Prognosis of the Patients

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. It has long been accepted that tobacco consumption including smokeless tobacco and heavy alcohol consumption are the principal etiologic factors for the development of oral cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the clinicopathological and histological grade of oral malignancy and its effect on the prognosis of the patients. Material & Methods: A prospective study done on 50 patients with oral cavity cancer with or without secondary whose histopathology showing only squamous cell carcinoma in department of ENT at Government Medical College, Pali, Rajasthan, India. The patients age, sex, Habits, socio economic status, premalignant conditions, clinical features, site of oral cavity, staging, histopathology were recorded. Sites of the lesion were subdivided into lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, gingiva, alveolar mucosa, palate, buccal/labial mucosa, maxilla and mandible. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software version 24.0. Results: The present study showed that most patients both male and female belongs to 45-65 years of age groups (80%). Male preponderance and majority of patients belongs to lower socio-economic status (60%). Out of 50, 35 patients are pan masala chewers, 40 patients are betel nut chewers and 22 patients are smokers in our study. Majority of patients in this groups present with ulceroproliferative growth of oral malignancy covering 88% of patients. Well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was the major histopathological type. Majority of the patient in this study groups are in Grade G1 (well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma). Buccal mucosa was the most common site of oral cancer reported in 64% and Tongue was the next common site 26%. Conclusion: This study highlights some anatomical locations where oral cancers are frequently encountered. As a result, clinicians should pay attention to not only teeth, but oral mucosa especially in the high prevalence area as well since early detection of precancerous lesions or cancers in the early stage increase the chance of patient being cured and greatly reduce the mortality and morbidity.