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Review
. 2023 Mar 27;30(4):3721-3734.
doi: 10.3390/curroncol30040283.

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Concomitant Primary Tumors, What Do We Know? A Review of the Literature

Mohammed Badwelan  1 , Hasan Muaddi  2 , Abeer Ahmed  1 , Kyungjun T Lee  1 , Simon D Tran  1
Affiliations
Review

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Concomitant Primary Tumors, What Do We Know? A Review of the Literature

Mohammed Badwelan et al. Curr Oncol. .

Abstract

Head and neck cancer is among the top ten cancers worldwide, with most lesions in the oral cavity. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for more than 90% of all oral malignancies and is a significant public health concern. Patients with OSCC are at increased risk for developing concomitant tumors, especially in the oral cavity, due to widely genetically susceptible mucosa to carcinogenic factors. Based on fulfilling specific criteria, these concomitant tumors can be called second primary tumors (SPTs), which can be further categorized into metachronous and synchronous tumors. This research reviews the literature that investigated the concurrent OSCC with second or multiple primaries to improve understanding of the definition, classification guidelines, and its effect on cancer survival. It also highlights the current investigation methods, the variation of standard treatment approaches due to such a phenomenon, and preventive measures discussed in the literature.

Keywords: metachronous; multiple primary cancers; oral squamous cell carcinoma; second primary tumor; synchronous.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Shows the development of OSCC post-exposure to carcinogenic risk factors; If SPT was discovered before or after six months of P-OSCC development, it would be considered synchronous or metachronous, respectively.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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