Abstract
Oral cancer is one of the most fatal health problems faced by the mankind today. In India, because of cultural, ethnic, geographic factors and the popularity of addictive habits, the frequency of oral cancer is high. It ranks number one in terms of incidence among men and third among women. Several factors like tobacco and tobacco related products, alcohol, genetic predisposition and hormonal factors are suspected as possible causative factors. Hence the study was designed to determine the prevalence of Oral Cancer in patients who attended the outpatient department, at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College Sangli India during a period of 24 months in 2009–2010. Further various modes of tobacco and alcohol consuming habit were assessed along with the site of occurrence of oral cancer. About 35,122 subjects belonging to a semi-urban district of Sangli in Western Maharashtra (India) were screened. Tobacco and alcohol consumption was the common habit among the study population. Out of these about 112 cases showed Oral Cancer. The prevalence of Oral Cancer was 1.12%. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS software 11. The findings in the present study reveal a high prevalence of Oral Cancer and a rampant misuse of variety of addictive substances in the community. Close follow up and systematic evaluation is required in this population. Education about ill effects of tobacco and alcohol consumption is necessary at a broader scale. There is an urgent need for awareness programs involving the community health workers, dentists and allied medical professionals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Greenberg, M. S., & Glick, M. (2003). Burket’s oral medicine diagnosis & treatment (10th ed., p. 195). Hamilton: BC Decker Inc.
Rajendran, R., & Sivapathasundharam, B. (2006). Shafer’s textbook of oral pathology (5th ed., pp. 113–308). New Delhi: Elsevier, Reed Elsevier India Private Limited.
Mehrotra, R., Pandya, S., Chaudhary, A. K., Kumar, M., & Singh, M. (2008). Prevalence of oral pre-malignant and malignant lesions at a tertiary level hospital in Allahabad, India. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 9(2), 263–265.
Wahi, P. M. (1968). The Epidemiology of oral and oro-pharyngeal cancer. A report in Manipuri dist, Uttar Pradesh, India. Bulletin of World Health Organization, 38, 495–521.
Thomson, P. J. (2002). Field change and oral cancer: New evidence for widespread carcinogenesis? International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 31, 262–266.
Mathew, B. (1993). Epidemiology of oral cancer. JIDA, 64(2), 43–46.
Rao, R. S., & Desai, P. B. (1991). Oral cancer (pp. 1–5). Bombay: Tata Press Limited.
Gupta, P. C., & Nandkumar, A. (1999). Oral cancer scene in India. Guest editorial. Oral Diseases, 5, 1–2.
Sanghvi, L. D. (1981). Cancer epidemiology. The Indian scene. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 99, 1–4.
Sankaranarayanan, R. (1990). Oral cancer in India: An epidemiologic and clinical review. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, 69, 325–330.
Soben, P. (2003). Essentials of preventive and community dentistry (2nd ed., p. 470). New Delhi: Arya Publishing house.
Hashibe, M., Jacab, B. J., Thomas, G., Ramadas, K., Mathew, B., Sankaranarayanan, R., et al. (2003). Socio-economic status, life style factors and oral pre-malignant lesions. Oral Oncology, 39, 664–671.
Homann, N., Tillonen, J., Meurman, J. H., Rintamaki, H., Lindqvist, C., Rautio, M., et al. (2000). Increased salivary acetaldehyde levels in heavy drinkers and smokers: A microbiological approach to oral cavity cancer. Carcinogenesis, 21(4), 663–668.
World Health Organization. (1992). Recent advances in oral health. Technical report series-826. World Health Organization, 298, 1–37.
Tandon, S. (2004). Challenges to the oral health workforce in India. Journal of Dental Education, 68, 29–33.
Kramer, I. R., Pindborg, J. J., Bezroukov, V., & Infirri, J. S. (1980). Guide to epidemiology and diagnosis of oral mucosal diseases and conditions. World Health Organization. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 8(1), 1–26.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Byakodi, R., Byakodi, S., Hiremath, S. et al. Oral Cancer in India: An Epidemiologic and Clinical Review. J Community Health 37, 316–319 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9447-6
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9447-6