Tongue carcinoma: case series and demographic analysis

BACKGROUND: Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for approximately half of oral cavity SCCcases. Smoking and drinking are two major risk factors for SCC worldwide. Recently, increasing incidence amongyoung white individuals who were never-smoker, never-drinker have been reported. METHODS: To determine the demographic status of tongue SCC in our region, this study was conducted amongpatients who undergone surgery in Tabriz, Iran, due to tongue SCC. RESULTS: Mean age of 27 patients was 61 years and 22% of them were under 45 years old. Mean duration ofbeginning the symptoms to biopsy was 113 days for patients under the age of 60 years and 253 days for elderly patients(P = 0.026). Early diagnosis, especially in patients more than 60 years old, was associated with good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that considering a lower threshold for obtaining biopsy fromelderly patients, even in the first visit, is useful for early diagnosis and better prognosis.