Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx in young adults.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a disease of older age group predominately in the sixth and eighth decades of life. The incidence of oral SCC (young age <40 years) varies between 0.4% and 3.9%. There has been increasing trend in younger age group worldwide as well as in India as reported by many studies. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinicopathological profile, treatment, and outcomes of SCC of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer in the young age group of <40 years old. This retrospective observational study was done by retriving data of selected cohort from 2013 to 2015. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (10-30 years) and Group 2 (31-40 years) for comparison. SPSS Version 16 software was used for statistical analysis. Cohort of 217 patients was analyzed. The male:female ratio was 11:1. The most frequent site of primary tumor was tongue > buccal mucosa. The primary site of cancer as oropharynx was present in 3 (5.17%) and 22 (13.83%) patients, respectively, in two groups. Mean overall survival (OS) in two groups was 22.53 and 25.14 months, respectively (P = 0.119). The median disease-free survival (DFS) in two groups was 7 and 8 months, respectively. The present study showed that the incidence of oropharyngeal cancer increases with age, but the behavior is more aggressive in a younger age group in spite of aggressive treatment, the DFS and OS were not improved in under 30 years group.