Early detection and prevention of oral cancer: an appraisal

Abstract

Oral cancers (OC) represent the majority of head and neck cancers with more than half million patients being affected each year worldwide. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth commonest cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately 4% of all cancers. Therefore, an improvement in the prevention and control of oral cancer is of critical importance. This may be achieved by reducing the risk through avoidance of tobacco and alcohol, recognizing and treating premalignant lesions and detecting developed OC at an early stage. Data search for the present review was done electronically. Electronic search was conducted using databases such as Pubmed and Medline, Cochrane library, articles published in peer-reviewed journals, text books, grey literature and from sites of World Health Organization, Centre For Diseases Control Report, Global Adult Tobacco Survey and Global Youth Tobacco Survey reports. This review ruled out web of causation and web of prevention including early detection and prevention to be an ideal strategy to reduce the prevalence of oral cancer and its impact on quality of life. Screening and early detection in population at risk have been proposed to decrease both morbidity and mortality associated with the oral cancer.