Oral Cancer: epidemiology, aetiology, pathology and management

Question 1

what is the most common type of oral cancer?

Answer 1

oral squamous cell carcinoma. (90%)

Question 2

what are the problems with oral cancer epidemiologically

Answer 2

• Increasing incidence
• Younger patients
• Little improvement in survival (40%)
• many patients present late
• men more common than women
• link between oral cancer and increased socioeconomic deprivation

Question 3

what are the risk factors of oral cancer?

Answer 3

• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Sunlight
• Infections (Viruses, Fungi, Bacteria)
• Diet and nutrition

Question 4

what is the relationship between smoking and smokeless tobacco and cancer?

Answer 4

• definite relationship with oral cancer
• risk is greatest in heavy users (>20/day)
• risk is greater if accompanied by alcohol use

Question 5

what is the relationship between alcohol and cancer?

Answer 5

• consumption of alcoholic drinks is a risk factor for oral cancer
• ethanol alone is not carcinogenic
• amount of ethanol more important than type
• risk is greatest when accompanied by tobacco use
• Increasing importance in young patients