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. 2024 Jan 29;24(1):141.
doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-03869-8.

Demographic and imaging features of oral squamous cell cancer in Serbia: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Aleksa Janović  1 , Đurđa Bracanović  2 , Svetlana Antić  2 , Biljana Marković-Vasiljković  2
Affiliations

Demographic and imaging features of oral squamous cell cancer in Serbia: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Aleksa Janović et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: The mortality of oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) in Serbia increased in the last decade. Recent studies on the Serbian population focused mainly on the epidemiological aspect of OSCC. This study aimed to investigate the demographic and imaging features of OSCC in the Serbian population at the time of diagnosis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed computed tomography (CT) images of 276 patients with OSCC diagnosed between 2017 and 2022. Age, gender, tumor site, tumor volume (CT-TV, in cm3), depth of invasion (CT-DOI, in mm), and bone invasion (CT-BI, in %) were evaluated. TNM status and tumor stage were also analyzed. All parameters were analyzed with appropriate statistical tests.

Results: The mean age was 62.32 ± 11.39 and 63.25 ± 11.71 for males and females, respectively. Male to female ratio was 1.63:1. The tongue (36.2%), mouth floor (21.0%), and alveolar ridge (19.9%) were the most frequent sites of OSCC. There was a significant gender-related difference in OSCC distribution between oral cavity subsites (Z=-4.225; p < 0.001). Mean values of CT-TV in males (13.8 ± 21.5) and females (5.4 ± 6.8) were significantly different (t = 4.620; p < 0.001). CT-DOI also differed significantly (t = 4.621; p < 0.001) between males (14.4 ± 7.4) and females (10.7 ± 4.4). CT-BI was detected in 30.1%, the most common in the alveolar ridge OSCC. T2 tumor status (31.4%) and stage IVA (28.3%) were the most dominant at the time of diagnosis. Metastatic lymph nodes were detected in 41.1%.

Conclusion: Our findings revealed significant gender-related differences in OSCC imaging features. The predominance of moderate and advanced tumor stages indicates a long time interval to the OSCC diagnosis.

Keywords: Demography; Oral cavity; Retrospective studies; Squamous cell Cancer; X-Ray computed Tomography.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of patient selection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(A) Depth of tumor invasion (DOI) measured on the coronal reformatted contrast-enhanced CT image of the tongue OSCC. The tumor presented as a postcontrast hyperdense soft tissue mass. (B) DOI measured in the OSCC of the buccal mucosa. The tumor presented as an irregular thickening of the buccal and inferior fornix mucosa
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Large OSCC originating from the right alveolar ridge. (A) Axial CECT image in soft tissue window shows large heterogenous tumor mass with extensive local invasion of the surrounding soft tissues (white arrowheads depict tumor borders). Note the extensive bone destruction of the right mandibular body. (B) Volume rendering CT image shows the extent of bone destruction of the right mandibular body and angle
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
OSCC of the left buccal and inferior fornix mucosa. (A) Hyperdense tumor mass presented as an irregular mucosal thickening (black asterisk) on coronal CECT image in soft tissue window. (B) Signs of mandibular bone invasion on coronal CECT image in the bone window (white arrow shows destruction of the buccal cortical bone; arrowhead shows mental foramen). Note the disruption of the trabecular bone architecture and blurring of the cortical bone margins on the left
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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