Risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma in young and older Brazilian patients: a comparative analysis

The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors and clinical aspects associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in young patients as compared to older ones. STUDY DESIGN. Data was obtained by retrospective analysis of files of patients with OSCC, who were categorised into two groups: the young group (< or =40 years old) and the older group (> 40 years old). Clinical data, including habits, familial antecedents, medical records and occupation were collected.

One hundred and twenty-one patients were found to have OSCC; 13 (10.7%) were young individuals and 108 (89.3%) older ones. Consumption of tobacco and/or alcohol was reported by 7 (53.8%) young patients and by 81 (75.0%) older patients, this difference not being statistically significant (P = 0.18). However, only 1 young patient (12.5%) was a heavy consumer of tobacco and alcohol as opposed to 49 (60.5%) of the older patients. Familial antecedents of malignant neoplasm were reported by 11 (84.6%) young patients and 32 (29.6%) older ones respectively, this difference being statistically significant (P = 0.0001). Medical records and patient's occupation did not show correlation with the aetiology of OSCC.

Although the young and older patients share a similar habit for the consumption of tobacco and/or alcohol, the pattern of consumption and time of exposure to these two risk factors suggested that these etiologic factors are less clearly implicated in the development of oral cancer in the young patients than in older ones. Thus, for young patients with OSCC, the search for predisposing factors should assign greater weight to familial antecedents of malignant neoplasm.