Clinical, Epidemiological and Microscopic Features of Oral Cancer as Diagnosed at the University of Alfenas

Abstract

The present study intended to characterize and compare clinical and demographical characteristics of patients who had oral cancer, as well as to evaluate the microscopic features of each neoplasm based on the histological malignancy graduation. A scrutiny of all the malignant neoplasm diagnosed and stored in the Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy of University of Alfenas from January 1998 to December 2006 was accomplished and 49 tumors were identified. The results showed that among these 49 lesions, 43 were squamous cell carcinoma, three were malignant neoplasm of salivary glands and the others were carcinoma-in-situ, micro-invasive and verrucous. The tumors were more prevalent in 51 to 60 year-old male Caucasian patients. The lesions were more frequently located on the lateral border of the tongue, presenting as infiltrating ulcers. It was also noticed that the majority of the tumors were well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, showing a score of histological malignancy graded between 4 and 8. It was concluded that the oral cancer is still a very common lesion, affecting mainly 51 to 60 year-old male Caucasian patients.