Prospective study of characteristic of patients with Oral squamous cell carcinomas

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) still a significant health burden in developed and developing countries. Aims and Objectives: To study the premalignant and malignant lesions of oral cavity, to classify malignant lesions according to histomorphology and to study the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in lesions. Materials and Methods: Fifty cases of SCC diagnosed by histopathology of oral cavity were studied in the Department of Pathology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun over a period of 12 months. Semi-quantative evaluation of EGFR expression was done. All scores were based on examining the whole section in each biopsy under a multi headed microscope by three observers. Results: Out of 50 patients, 28% were in the age group of 51-60 years, there was an obvious male preponderance (92%). Majority of patients were only tobacco smokers (44%). The commonest site of oral cancers was tongue (26%). Out of total 50 cases, 37 (74%) were malignant and 13 (26%) were premalignant lesion. In present study, 48.64% of malignant and 84.61% premalignant lesion patients showed 3+ positivity of EGFR expression. Conclusion: Oral SCC was most common in male elderly patients, tongue was the most common site and moderately differentiated SCC was most common. Expression of EGFR was increased in both premalignant and malignant lesions. EGFR expression was over expressed in premalignant lesions and decreased in normal mucosa so premalignant lesions can be segregated as they are likely to progress to invasive cancer. Keywords: Squamous cell carcinoma, Epidermal growth factor receptor, Oral cancer, EGFR expression