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. 2024 Dec 20;14(1):30573.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83470-9.

Epidemiological landscape of tongue cancer in younger patients in a National Cancer Center in Brazil

Ana Carolina da Silva Souto #  1 , Beatriz Nascimento Monteiro da Silva #  2 , Fernanda Vieira Heimlich  3   4 , Otávio Augusto Brioschi Soares  1 , Fernando Luiz Dias  5 , Luiz Henrique de Lima Araujo  2 , Andreia Cristina de Melo  2 , Héliton Spindola Antunes  2 , Luiz Claudio Santos Thuler  2 , Daniel Cohen Goldemberg  6   7   8
Affiliations

Epidemiological landscape of tongue cancer in younger patients in a National Cancer Center in Brazil

Ana Carolina da Silva Souto et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

This study investigates the changing epidemiological profile of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to young patients, highlighting its rising incidence among non-traditional risk groups. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted, covering data from medical records between 2000 and 2012. Patients were categorised into two age groups (≤ 40 years; 41-50 years). Sociodemographic and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated. A total of 108 patients participated, mostly aged 41-50. Alcohol consumption (43.3%) surpassed smoking. Majority (56.7%) aged ≤ 40 never smoked. Lateral tongue border was most affected, with stages III and IV prevalent. Patients aged ≤ 40 were mostly eligible for surgery (44%). Survival tied to staging and surgery; age had no significant impact. Young squamous cell carcinoma patients often lacked traditional risk factors like smoking, underwent surgery, and typically had disease-free margins. The study underscores the importance of broad external policies for early diagnosis, beyond just traditional risk groups.

Keywords: Oral cancer; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Survival; Tongue cancer; Young patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overall survival for tongue cancer patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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