Prevalence of oral premalignant lesions in the area with the highest prevalence of gastrointestinal cancer

Haleh Zokaee 1, *, Maedeh banki 2, Amir Hossein Akbari Zahmati 3 and Gholamreza Roshandel 4

1 Assistant professor of Oral Medicine, Dental Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
2 Post Graduate of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Dental School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Doctor of Dental Surgery, Dental Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
4 Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
 
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Biology and Pharmacy, 2023, 08(02), 008–016.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjbp.2023.8.2.0024
Publication history: 
Received on 25 May 2023; revised on 05 July 2023; accepted on 07 July 2023
 
Abstract: 
Objective: According to research conducted in Iran, from 141450 cases of reported cancer between 2003-2006, 1896 cases of oral and lip cancer have been reported. The timely and prompt diagnosis of this disease reduces mortality, increases longevity, reduces damage to adjacent structures, reduces financial costs, and unwanted side effects. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of oral premalignant lesions in the oral cavity and the factors related to it in Golestan province.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study, 1900 Iranian subjects living in Golestan province, regardless of gender, aged 40 and above, participated voluntarily and randomly. Initially, a questionnaire containing demographic information, assessment of habits and risk factors was completed for each patient in an interview form, followed by oral examination on all patients. Statistical analysis of data was done by SPSS 22.
Results: The mean age of these individuals was 49.5 ± 10.3 years and the highest premalignant lesions were observed in the age range of 70-80 years. Of the 1900 participants, 69 (3.6%) had pre-malignant lesions. Among the pre-malignant lesions, the prevalence of lichen planus was 49.28%, leukoplakia was 14.49%, and the suspected malignancy was 18.8%. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the use of tobacco with the development of pre-malignant lesions (p <0.01). Cigarette alone showed the highest association with the development of pre-malignant lesions.
Conclusions: In this study, there was a significant relationship between risk factors such as age, ethnicity and smoking with the development of premalignant lesions in people. However, risk factors such as alcohol consumption and family history did not show a significant relationship.
 
Keywords: 
Mouth Neoplasms; Precancerous Conditions; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Tobacco Products
 
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