title: Squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue in young patients - A 10 years tertiary care experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical and pathological profile of young patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised record of patients <35 years presenting with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue between 2001 and 2011. Data was extracted from the electronic database of the hospital for site and age. Clinico-pathological variables were analysed using SPSS 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 29 patients, 17(58.6%) were men and 12(41.3%) were women. The overall mean age at presentation was 29.6+/-4.4 years. All patients (100%) had some sort of addiction, with 15(51.7%) having more than one addiction. Of the total, 20(68.9%) patients had moderately differentiated carcinoma. At presentation, 20(68.9%) had advanced stage (III-IV) disease. Surgery was the primary modality used in all the patients (100%). Median follow-up period was 36 months (range: 1-6 years). During follow-up, 7(24.1%) patients developed recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue was more commonly seen in males, and multiple addictions were a common risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adeel
authors.affiliation: Section of ENT, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suhail
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D063128:Tertiary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Squamous cell carcinoma, Addictions, Recurrence, Betel nut.