title: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the paediatric patient: a literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paediatric Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is rare, but its incidence is increasing, bringing forward  the issue of the common pathogenic factors. The aim of this study is to verify the actual incidence of oral carcinoma reported  in paediatric patients up to the age of 15 by thoroughly reviewing the available literature. Setting this cut-off age has allowed  us to emphasise possible risk factors other than those always associated with the onset of this neoplasia, which are not  present in this age bracket yet.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the first stage of the research, generic key words concerning OSCC in  childhood were entered into two search engines. In the second stage, terms related to predisposing diseases connected to  childhood oral carcinoma and those initially found were searched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature review consisted of 55  documented cases from 1894 to 2011, of which 15 were part of complete published case reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paediatric  OSCC, though uncommon, is not rare. The review has strongly highlighted the need to carry out an objective, thorough and  standardised examination of the child's oral cavity, especially when systemic predisposing diseases, such as Epidermolysis  bullosa, Xeroderma pigmentosum, Juvenile papillomatosis and Fanconi's anaemia, are present.
authors.affiliation: University of Insubria, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tettamanti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caprioglio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tecco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levrini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors