Oral pathology in a population observed within an oral cancer screening developed in Portugal

Oral cancer is a global public health problem. Late diagnosis leads to treatment delays, which consequently result in a worse prognosis and a decrease in the 5-year survival rate. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the oral pathology in a population observed within an oral cancer screening developed in Portugal.

Oral cancer opportunistic screening activities were conducted by the non-profit organization Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro ‑ Núcleo Regional do Sul (LPCC-NRS) and data collection occurred between March and December 2022. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and lifestyle habits, followed by a clinical examination of the oral cavity. All individuals classified with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD), or suspected lesions of malignant neoplasia were subsequently contacted between January and February 2023 and were questioned about undergoing a biopsy and its respective pathological examination result. Descriptive and analytical statistics were applied.

A total of 2674 participants with a mean age of 57 years were screened. Fordyce granules (16.30%) were the most common non-pathological condition, and hairy tongue (11.04%) was the most frequently observed benign lesion. Leukoplakia (43.58%) was the most common oral potentially malignant disorder. Additionally, histological confirmation was obtained for the presence of 4 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), representing 0.15% of all population screened.

Although benign pathology is the most frequently found, oral potentially malignant disorders and suspected malignant lesions were identified in 6.3% of participants in these oral cancer screenings. In this regard, we conclude that the oral cancer screening actions developed by LPCC-NRS were effective in identifying positive cases of OPMDs and oral cancer, using an intraoral visual examination of the oral cavity.