The Evaluation of Non-Office Based Screening Techniques for Oral Cancer in India.

Abstract

Oral cancer presents a substantial public health challenge in India, encompassing cancers affecting the lip, mouth, and tongue, specifically classified under ICD (10) codes C00-06 [1]. WHO defines the oral cavity as extending from the vermilion border of the lip to the junction of the hard and soft palate, covering regions such as the lips, commissures, tongue, floor of the mouth, gingivae, buccal mucosa, retromolar trigone, and hard palate [2]. Squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity, accounting for approximately 90% of all oral cancers, primarily originates from epithelial cells [3]. The progression of oral cancer is often preceded by potentially malignant lesions termed Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs), which include inflammatory oral submucosa, fibrosis, erythroplakia, leukoplakia, candidal leukoplakia, dyskeratosis congenita, and lichen planus. Globally, there is a consistent pattern of higher incidence and mortality rates in men compared to women. South-Central Asia reported the highest number of new cases, followed by Eastern Asia and North America [4].