Volume : 8, Issue : 2, February - 2019

ORAL CAVITY AND OROPHARYNGEALMALIGNANCIES: A CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL STUDY

Dr. Lidiya James, Dr. Ajaykumar K Francis

Abstract :

BACKGROUND:Oral cavity and oropharyngeal malignancies are a heterogeneous group of cancers arising from different parts of the oral cavity and oropharynx, with different predisposing factors, prevalence, and treatment outcomes. It is the sixth most common cancer reported globally. In India it accounts for majority of cancer mortality and morbidity, posing a significant challenge to health care providers by both preventive and diagnostic means. AIM:To evaluate the clinico-epidemiological profile of oral cavity and oropharyngeal malignancies and to study the histopathological type and differentiation of oral cavity and oropharyngeal malignancies. MATERALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in department of Otorhinolaryngology,Government Medical College,Thrissur, for a period of one year from January 2016 to January2017. It was a cross sectional study. 100 patients with complaints of growth in oral cavity and oropharynx were selected using convenient sampling technique. Detailed history is recorded in a proforma, regarding age, sex, presenting complaints, habits of chewing tobacco, habit of smoking and consumption of alcohol. Thorough examination of oral cavity and oropharynx is performed, and site and morphology of growth is noted.Biopsy is taken from the growth and specimen sent for histopathological examination. Histopathological diagnosis regarding type and differentiation is made. RESULTS:100 patients with complaints of growth in the oral cavity and oropharynx were studied. Majority of patients were males [75%]. Maximum number of cases presented between 50 and 59 years of age (mean age: 60.85 years). Majority of patients were daily wage workers doing manuallabour[47%].73% of patients were smokers,52% were consumers of smokeless tobacco, while 73% were alcoholics.Oral lesion was the most common symptom in our study.Tongue was the commonest site [34%]followed by buccal mucosa [18%]. Squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest histological variety[96%]. Majority of the tumours were welldifferentiated.CONCLUSION: Malignancy of oral cavity and oropharynx is predominantly a disease ofmales and affects older age group.Manuallabourersand people with poor socio-economic background are more vulnerable to oral and oropharyngealmalignancies. Tobacco and alcohol consumption are important etiological factors for oral and oropharyngealmalignancies.Anterior part of oral cavity is commonly affected, and patients usually presents with oral lesion.Well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma is the commonest histologicalvariety.