Oral squamous cell carcinoma associated with oral submucous fibrosis have better oncologic outcome than those without

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder associated with the use of areca nut, and is mainly seen in the parts of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. We hypothesized that oral cancers occurring in presence of OSMF are clinicopathologically a distinct entity.

We analyzed 289 treatment naïve patients of oral cancer. They were followed up for a median of 44 months. Association of presence of OSMF with other histopathological factors was done using the χ² test. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for survival analysis.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma along with OSMF was seen more often in younger patients (P < .001) and males (P < .007), and had a lower T-stage (P < .002) and N-stage (P < .000). These were thinner (P < .002), less infiltrative (P < .04) tumors and required adjuvant therapy less frequently (P < .017). The mean disease specific survival, overall for those with and without OSMF was 58.8 and 48.6 months (P < .002), and specifically for stages III and IV was 49.4 and 38.5 months, respectively (P < .053).

Oral squamous cell carcinomas associated with OSMF are associated with good clinicopathologic profile and have better prognosis and oncological outcomes.