Análisis histopatológico de casos de cáncer oral en instituciones de las regiones chilenas del Maule y Bío-Bío entre los años 2001-2011

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OSCC) is an invasive epithelial neoplasm with varying degrees of differentiation and propensity to metastasise. Chilean evidence for OSCC is scarce, and even more so for the Seventh (Maule) and Eighth (Bío-Bío) regions. Hence, the present study is carried out to evaluate the histopathological features of OSCC patients to contribute to local and national knowledge. A retrospective observational study was conducted on a convenience sample (n = 33) from health care institutions of Seventh and Eighth Chilean regions. The mean age of patients was 65 years. The most common OSCC anatomical locations were lips (36.4%), followed by the tongue (27.3%), and the floor of the mouth (9.1%). Moderately differentiated OSCC predominated (51.5%), with a pattern of infiltrating tumour invasion (81.8%) and a moderate/strong immune response (75.8%). In these Chilean regions, OSCC mainly affects older people and is located in an easily accessible area for anatomical examination, which should allow early diagnosis. Professionals with post-graduate knowledge or expertise in Pathology and Oral Medicine are needed in public health care centres.