Epidemiology of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Yazd, Iran, from 2001 to 2011

Introduction:Cancer is the second cause of death in the world and the third primary cause in Iran. In this study, we examined the epidemiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as the most common malignancy of the oral cavity and its related factors in Yazd Province, Iran, from 2001 to 2011. Materials and methods: This descriptive study evaluated the medical records of patients with OSCC in the chief hospital in the city of Yazd. Data were extracted based on the demographic and primary etiologic, clinical, and pathological characteristics. Data were analyzed with t-test and chi-square test at a significance level of &alpha; <0.05. Results: OSCC consisted of 54% of the malignancies of the head and neck region, which are most common in the sixth decade of life with a male-tofemale ratio of 1.4:1. The average patients&rsquo; age was 62.81 years. The average annual incidence of OSCC in Yazd indigenous population during the study period was 1.02 out of 100,000 individuals. Overall, 49.3% of patients used tobacco or snuff, and the number of females exposed to these factors was significantly less than that of males (P =0.001). The most common microscopic diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (76%), followed by verrucous carcinoma (21.1%); 55.8% of patients had well-differentiated SCC, and 42.6% exhibited moderately differentiated SCC. The tongue was the most common site of involvement (41.1%), and the most common clinical feature was exophytic lesions (51.4%). Conclusion: The general epidemiological pattern of OSCC in this study was similar to other studies. In older patients (seventh and eighth decades) and females (particularly in cases of tongue), etiologic factors other than tobacco may play more prominent roles.