Global Journal of Medical Research, F: Diseases, Volume 22 Issue 1

Socio-Demographic and Clinical Profile of Lip, Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer in an Urban Cancer Centre in Coimbatore Dr. Sujatha K α & Aji Antony σ Abstract- The incidence and demographic data of cancer is the important basis for cancer prevention. Lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers (LOCP) have a variety of geographic distribution and multiple risk factors. This study aims to describe and compare the epidemiological profile of LOCP cancers. A retrospective study was done and the data of LOCP cancer patients, admitted during the year 2017 at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital was collected. A total of 441 LOCP cases were recorded, of which most cases belonged to the age group of 51-70 years and male gender. T he most common subtypes are mouth and tongue. The increased incidence of LOCP cancer and its subtypes associated with smoking and tobacco points to the pivotal role of these risk factors in the pathogenesis of LOCP cancers. Hence better awareness and stringent measures is the need of the hour of the decrease the ongoing burden of these cancer types. Keywords: lip cancer, oral cancer, risk factor, epidemiology, smoking, tobacco. I. I ntroduction ancer ranks as a leading cause of death and an important barrier to increasing life expectancy in every country of the world. 1 GLOBOCAN 2018stated that nearly 18.1 million new cancer cases and 9.6 million cancer deaths occurred in 2018 worldwide, compared with 14.1 million and 8.2 million, respectively, in 2012. 2,3 Of these, the incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal (LOCP) cancers is increasing. In 2018, LOCP cancers have been estimated to be responsible for 710,237 incident cases and 358536 deaths accounting for about 3.9% of all cancer cases and 3.7% of cancer deaths. 2 The projections for the year 2035 show a 62% increase in the number of cases. 4 LOCP cancers often have similar risk factors, common pathology and hence, are grouped together. 5 The predominant risk factors for LOCP cancers include tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption although other factors, including the aspects of diet, may affect the risk. 6 Of these the most important risk factor is tobacco use. There are about 60 carcinogens in cigarette smoke and nearly 16 carcinogens in chewing or smokeless tobacco. The types of chewable tobacco Author α : Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, Namakkal. e-mail: drksujatha10@gmail.com Author σ : Intern, Coimbatore Medical College. products manufactured in the country are innumerable such as pan masala, guttka, pukar, khaini and are easily accessible to the common man. These products are kept for longer times in the buccogingival sulcus and accounts for higher incidences of oral cavity cancer. 7 Due to the differences in the prevalence of specific risk factors, there is a considerable variation in the pattern of these cancers. A 20-fold global variation is seen in the incidence of these cancers. 8 Two-thirds of this burden is in the developing countries, where under-ascertainment of cases is significant. 9 In India too, there is a varied geographical distribution within the country. 10 Moreover the data on cancer is limited because the cancer registries which provide data on incidence rates cover only less than 10% of the total population. 11 Hence it becomes necessary to analyse cancer trends based on the regional data and identify the specific risk factors as well as the future prospects for effective interventions in cancer prevention. Therefore, the present study aims to describe and compare the epidemiological profile of the LOCP cancer patients registered in our hospital. II. M ethodology A record based retrospective study was conducted at the Regional Cancer Centre, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The study was conducted over a period of six months from February 2018 to July 2018. Time bound sampling was done. Data of all the cases of LOCP cancers registered from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 were taken. A pre-tested, semi-structured case study form was used as the study tool. It has four parts: a) Demographic details: It includes the age, sex, socio- economic status and the residential address of the patients. Socio-economic status of the patients was classified according to the Modified Kuppuswamy scale. 12 The patients were classified according to the district they reside in. b) Clinical profile: It includes the cancer site, histopathological type and stage of cancer. The cancer site was classified according to the International Classifications of Diseases of Oncology, 3rd Edition (ICD-O). The cancers included: lip (ICD-O: C00), tongue (ICD-O: C01-C02), gum (ICD-O: C03), mouth (ICD-O: C04, C06), palate (ICD-O: C05), parotid gland (ICD-O: C07) submandibular gland (ICD-O: C 19 Year 2022 Global Journal of Medical Research Volume XXII Issue I Version I ( D ) F © 2022 Global Journals