Oral cancer in women nonusers of tobacco and alcohol

A retrospective study of private surgical experience (L.J.T.) in the treatment of primary oral carcinoma was undertaken to compare the demographics, disease history, and clinical behavior patterns in women nonusers versus users of tobacco and alcohol. From a clinical group of 109 patients with oral carcinoma, an unexpectedly high percentage were women (41%, 45/109) and of these women, 31% (14/45) were nonusers of either substance. Differences were found in age (71 vs. 60 years), location of the primary tumor (0% vs. 35% floor of mouth), clinical stage at presentation (early, 80% vs. 50%), histologic parameters, clinical behavior patterns, and occurrence of secondary primaries (0% vs. 26%). The differences identified have prognostic and therapeutic implications.