Incidence of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Patients Aged 30 Years and Under: A Single Institution Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a disease typically seen in the elderly, with an established relationship with tobacco and/or alcohol abuse. However, the incidence of OSCC among young adults (defined in this study as ≤ 30 years old) is on the rise. Materials and Methods: With IRB approval, a retrospective search was performed at the University of Florida College of Dentistry Oral Pathology Biopsy Service database from 1994-to 2019 for all cases of OSCC affecting patients aged ≤ 30 years. Demographic data were recorded, and the slides were reviewed for diagnostic consensus. Results: Thirty-one of 3971 OSCC cases (0.76%) were identified. The data show a prominent increase over time. Male patients (54.83%) were more commonly affected. Their ages ranged from 8 to 30 years, with a mean age of 25 years. The lateral border of the tongue is the most frequent site of involvement. A wide spectrum of differential diagnoses were obtained, mostly consisting of reactive lesions. Symptoms were reported in 65.6% of the cases. The histological grades ranged from well to poorly differentiated. Conclusion: This study underscores the rarity of OSCC in children and young adults. This may potentially lead to a low clinical suspicion, misdiagnosis, and delay in treatment. Further longitudinal multicenter studies with detailed medical history, treatment, genotyping, and prognostic data may help to better understand the etiology of OSCC in young patients, aid in prevention, and improve outcomes.