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Iamaroon A, Pattanaporn K et al. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2004; 33: 84–88

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 4% of all cancer and over recent years has increased in young people. Incidence varies in different populations. This study reviewed records from 587 patients presenting in a hospital in northern Thailand over a 10 yr period.

Median age was 65 yrs (range 17-97) and 75 were aged 45 yrs or less (young group). Main site prevalences for these 2 groups were: tongue 43% and 60%, buccal mucosa 16% and 5%, palate 10% and 13%, and gum 10% and 4%.

In all OSCC patients, 23% were nonsmokers, 39% were teetotal and 38% did not chew betel quid. Respective figures for young patients were 36%, 33% and 65%. The authors review the occurrence of these risk factors and suggest there is scope for reducing them in this population. They suggest that the low number of young betel quid chewers, for instance, may account for the different prevalences of buccal mucosa OSCC.