Demographic and Clinicopathologic Characteristics of 3723 Patients with Primary Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A...

This study aimed to investigate the demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and explore the risk factors associated with OSCC pathological TNM (pTNM) stage.

This retrospective study included patients with OSCC from 2012 to 2023. Data analyzed included demographics, clinicopathological characteristics, and treatment. Age differences were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were presented as percentages and were compared using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.

A total of 3723 patients were analyzed and the male:female ratio was 2.35:1. Patients aged 45-59 years accounted for the largest proportion (37%, 1377/3723) of patients, and 90.7% (3375/3723) were from Hubei Province of China. The most commonly affected site was the body of the tongue (45.8%, 1704/3723). Moderately differentiated OSCC patients accounted for 54.9% (2045/3723) of the study cohort. The percentage of patients with locally advanced-stage OSCC (pTNM stage III/IV) was 41.2% (1534/3723). Patients of different sexes with OSCC at different sites were statistically different in respect to clinicopathological characteristics. 3057 patients underwent neck dissection, while 39.3% (1201/3057) had positive lymph nodes. Alcohol consumption, age >50 years, and perineural invasion (PNI) were independent risk factors for locally advanced OSCC (p < 0.05).

OSCC is more common in males and the most common site was the body of the tongue. Alcohol consumption, age > 50 years, and PNI were independent risk factors for locally advanced OSCC. The limitations include selection bias from a single-center study and the lack of prognostic data. Future studies should explore OSCC heterogeneity and enhance preventive strategies for patients who had risk factors.