Intraoral metal contact allergy as a possible risk factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Intraoral exposure to dental restorations can cause contact allergy that may induce carcinogenesis. We investigated the relationship of intraoral metal contact allergy to epithelial carcinogenesis.


METHODS
The prevalence of positive patch test reactions to dental restoration metals in 65 prospectively enrolled patients with newly or previously diagnosed oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was compared to that in 48 control patients. The relative risk of oral SCC was estimated by calculating odds ratios for exposure to dental metals resulting in allergy.


RESULTS
Of the 65 patients with oral SCC, 34% were allergic to at least 1 adjacent metal. They were 1.57 times as likely as control patients to have metal contact allergy (odds ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.65 to 3.80) and more than 3 times as likely to react to mercury (odds ratio, 3.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.42 to 33.20).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with oral SCC who have metal dental restorations should undergo patch testing and possible removal of the restorations if their reactions are positive.
Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona 85054, USA.
Megan E
ME
Weber
James A
JA
Yiannias
Firas G
FG
Hougeir
Amber
A
Kyle
Brie N
BN
Noble
April M
AM
Landry
Michael L
ML
Hinni
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003794:Dental Restoration, Temporary; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
D008670:Metals