A comparison of oral squamous cell carcinoma between young and old patients in a single medical center in China.

PURPOSE There is no consensus regarding the clinical course and prognosis for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in young patients. In this study, we report our experience with the management of oral squamous cell carcinoma, with a special focus on patients younger than 40 years old. METHODS From 2005 to 2012, all patients were treated for oral (gingiva, the anterior 2/3 of tongue, floor of the mouth and buccal) SCC in our medical center were enrolled. RESULTS We enrolled 430 patients, of whom 31 (7.2%) patients (19 male and 12 female) were younger than 40 years. Among the patients under 40, tumors were most commonly found on the tongue (15; 48.4%); there was recurrence in 10 (52.6%) male patients, and six (31.6%) male patients died of disease; and there was recurrence in seven (58.3%) female patients, while three (25.0%) female patients died of disease. In young patients with tongue carcinoma, five (33.3%) died of the disease and four (25%) young patients with carcinoma at other sites died of the disease. The older (>40 years old) patient group had similar rates of recurrence-free survival and disease-specific survival to the young (<40 years old) patient group. CONCLUSION In the young group, patients with tongue carcinoma tended to have a poorer prognosis than patients with carcinoma at other sites. The clinical course and prognosis were similar between the two groups, but younger patients were more likely to have a recurrence.