Clinical and histopathological analysis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in young people: a descriptive study in Brazilians

We retrospectively analysed the clinical and histological characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a sample of Brazilian patients 45 years of age or less. Files from a single oral histopathological service were studied during the period 1990 to 2005 and the clinical data collected. The histological sections of the invasive part of each tumour were analysed and classified using the criteria of Bryne et al. A total of 46 patients were selected, 36 (78%) of whom were white; 38 (83%) were male; and the most common site was the floor of the mouth (n=14, 30%) followed by the tongue (n=13, 28%). Most selected patients used tobacco and alcohol, and 43 were diagnosed as having clinical stages III and IV disease. Nine of the tumours (20%) were well differentiated, 23 were moderately differentiated, and the rest (n=14) were poorly differentiated. The characteristics of this group suggest that oral SCC in young patients does not behave differently from the oral SCC found in the overall population.