title: Demographic, aetiological and survival differences of oral squamous cell carcinoma in the young and the old in Sri Lanka.
abstract: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major oncological problem in many regions of the world where tobacco habits are practiced in the form of chewing and/or smoking with or without alcohol intake. It accounts for 16.5% of all cancers in Sri Lankan patients with a male:female ratio of 4:1. In Sri Lanka nearly 5% of OSCC are diagnosed in young patients. This comparative study describes, demographic, aetiological and survival data from young and old patients with OSCC (n=56). Both younger and older groups showed a marked male predilection (male:female ratio was 4:1 and 3.7:1 in younger and older groups respectively). Tongue was the commonest site for younger group (41%, P<0.01) whilst buccal mucosa (37.5%, P<0.05) and alveolar mucosa (25%, P<0.01) were for older group. 39% of cancers in younger group were not associated with any identifiable risk factor (P<0.01) and 70% of SCC of the tongue has no associated habits (P<0.01). SCC of the tongue in the younger group shows poor prognosis than the older patients. Three-year survival rate for the total number showed no significant difference in two age groups. Survival appeared to be better in patients without associated habits in the older group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: B S M S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Siriwardena
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tilakaratne
authors.forename: E A P D
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Amaratunga
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Tilakaratne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology