A I Zavras1, C Laskaris, C Kittas, G Laskaris. 1. Department of Oral Health Policy & Epidemiology, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. thanos_zavras@hms.harvard.edu
Abstract
UNLABELLED: In the developed world, intraoral malignancies are more frequent in males than females. Recent observations from Greece suggest that the number of females is increasing. AIM: The present study investigates gender and age statistics among subjects with cancers of the mouth or leukoplakia. METHODS: Five hundred and twelve subjects of Greek origin participated in this analysis. Chi-square and logistic regression statistics were used to compare if there are differences in participants' gender and age, stratified by histological type. RESULTS: Epithelial cancers and leukoplakia exhibited equal distributions among men and women. Men were diagnosed at a much younger age than women. Our data also indicates a progression in the process of epithelial cancer development, as benign leukoplakia was diagnosed 2-4 years earlier than epithelial dysplasia and 8 years earlier than squamous cell carcinoma (SSC). The same age difference was observed in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, although the male to female ratio was 3:1. In regards to anatomy, 47% of SSC appeared in the tongue. The most prevalent site for the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was the gingival (50%), followed by the palate (40%). CONCLUSION: Although oral cancer occurs earlier in men than women, the risk of females tends to be similar to that of males.
UNLABELLED: In the developed world, intraoral malignancies are more frequent in males than females. Recent observations from Greece suggest that the number of females is increasing. AIM: The present study investigates gender and age statistics among subjects with cancers of the mouth or leukoplakia. METHODS: Five hundred and twelve subjects of Greek origin participated in this analysis. Chi-square and logistic regression statistics were used to compare if there are differences in participants' gender and age, stratified by histological type. RESULTS:Epithelial cancers and leukoplakia exhibited equal distributions among men and women. Men were diagnosed at a much younger age than women. Our data also indicates a progression in the process of epithelial cancer development, as benign leukoplakia was diagnosed 2-4 years earlier than epithelial dysplasia and 8 years earlier than squamous cell carcinoma (SSC). The same age difference was observed in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, although the male to female ratio was 3:1. In regards to anatomy, 47% of SSC appeared in the tongue. The most prevalent site for the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was the gingival (50%), followed by the palate (40%). CONCLUSION: Although oral cancer occurs earlier in men than women, the risk of females tends to be similar to that of males.