Oral squamous cell carcinoma in identical twins: report of a case

This case report describes two middle-aged identical female twins with a mild to moderate history of tobacco and alcohol abuse who developed squamous cell carcinomas in the same anatomic sites. By exclusion of major factors, a correlation between heredity and the incidence of cancer in these cases appears likely; however, carcinogenic agents (tobacco and alcohol) must also be considered as contributing factors. Close observation of siblings (and certainly twins) is recommended when head and neck carcinoma occurs prior to middle age. Although no genetic population prone to oral cancer is known, the disease is rare enough in younger individuals to raise the question of a possible genetic predisposition.