Prevalence of oral premalignant and malignant Lesions among referred Kurdish patients Attending Department of Oral and Maxilofasial in Sulaimani Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: oral premalignant and malignant prevalence studies are important to know the state of health and the need of treatment. Premalignancy include group of diseases that acts as precursors of the squamous cell carcinoma. They are clinically and histologically distinct lesions preceding malignant changes. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a common malignancy that has high metastasis potential and thus survival rate of patients is low. Aim of study: to investigate the prevalence of oral precancerous and cancerous mucosal lesions among 1000 Kurdish referred patient attending Department of Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery in Sulaimani Teaching Hospital. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was performed on 1000consecutive outpatients, who referred to Sulaimani Teaching Hospital, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial, from November 2012-June 2013. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information which was completed by eachpatient. Biopsy was taken for oral premalignant and malignant lesions. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (Version 16). Cross tabulation and Chi-square with Fisher's exact test were used. Result: Among the 1000 patients, 23 patients (2.3%) had oral premalignant and malignant lesions. The proportion of lesions with potential to transform into cancer was (1.5%). Sqaumous cell carcinoma observed in 0.8%. Males constituted 43.4% (n=10) and females 56.6 %( n=13). Lichen planus were the most commonly observed lesions (n=6, 0.6%) followed by chronic candidial leukoplakia (n=5,0.5%), leukoplakia (n=3, 0.3%) and nicotinic stomatitis (n=1, 0.1%).All lesions had female propensity(56.6%).The most common location for oral premalignant lesions was buccal mucosa (41.1%) followed equally by tongue and palate (23.5%), but in oral malignant lesions (sqoumous cell carcinoma) tongue was most frequently involved site (37.5%). Conclusion: The study has provided information about prevalence of oral premalignant and malignant lesions