title: A 10-year analysis of the oral squamous cell carcinoma profile in patients from public health centers in Uruguay.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics and predictive factors of poor prognosis in patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in Uruguay. Medical records of patients with the diagnosis of primary OSCC treated between 2000 and 2010 in Uruguayan public hospitals were selected. Data on demographic characteristics, risk factors, clinical features, treatment, and outcome were collected. Associations of independent variables with outcomes were assessed using Pearson chi-squared and Fisher's tests. Of 200 patients with OSCC, 79.4% were men (3.8:1 male:female ratio), with a mean age of 60.75 ± 11.26 years. Tobacco and alcohol consumption were reported by 85.3% and 63.5% of patients, respectively. The most commonly affected location was the tongue (42.5%), with lesions exhibiting ulcerous aspects in 87.9% of cases and pain at the time of diagnosis in 70.4% of cases. One hundred sixty-one (82.1%) patients had advanced-stage (III/IV) OSCC. Surgery was the most common treatment option, and the overall 5-year survival rate was 58.5%. Univariate analysis showed that the predictors of poor prognosis were clinical aspect, size, regional metastasis, clinical stage, and treatment. In Uruguay, OSCC is diagnosed late, which is associated with a low survival rate. Educational and preventive measures and investment to improve early diagnosis should be undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Univesidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Maria Laura Cosetti
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian Petersen
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sant'ana Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Coelho
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Carrard
authors.affiliation: Center of Community Dental Health Research, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Neves
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Hugo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoela Domingues
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014583:Uruguay / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult