Oral cancer in the UAE: a multicenter, retrospective study

Abstract

Aim

To determine the prevalence of various malignant oral lesions in the UAE and correlate cases of squamous cell carcinomas with age, gender, site, grade, clinical presentations at the time of diagnosis, and the prevalence of neck metastasis.

Materials and methods

A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted at four major hospitals in the UAE. The study was based on histopathology reports of biopsies of oral tissues.

Results

Of the 992 oral biopsy reports retrieved, 147 cases of malignant tumors were found which accounted for 14.9% of the total biopsies. Fifteen different types of malignant lesions were diagnosed, of which oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was the most prevalent and made up 11.4% of the overall oral biopsies retrieved. The commonest presentation of cancer was ulceration (31.17%), followed by lumps and white lesions. The most common site where the lesions were diagnosed was the tongue (51.9%), followed by the cheeks and lips. OSCC accounted for 77% of all malignancies reported. Neck dissections were conducted in only 20.8% of all OSCC cases diagnosed at Mafraq and Tawam hospitals, of which 43.75% showed evidence of neck metastasis.

Conclusion

Oral cancer is not an uncommon disease in the UAE. This may mandate more awareness campaigning, including screening procedures for early detection of cancerous lesions and other potentially malignant oral diseases. Elective neck dissections to detect lymph node metastasis should be more routinely performed, in particular for tongue carcinomas because of the early neck involvement potential.

• UAE
• oral cancer
• biopsy
• prevalence
• early detection
• neck dissection

Acknowledgements

The authors extend their gratitude to the histopathological department of Tawam Hospital and Dr. Mouied Al Ashari, senior histopathologist, for providing access to oral pathology reports. The authors acknowledge the histopathological department of Mafraq Hospital for providing access to oral pathology reports and Mr. David William Howse for his help and cooperation during data collection.

Conflict of interest and funding

The author has not received any funding or benefits from industry or elsewhere to conduct this study.