Page 67 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF PATIENTS WITH ORAL
SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA SEEN AT A TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTRE IN SARAWAK

Sathasivam HP, Shim CK, Nadaesan P, Tan YJ, Lim WT, Lee SW
Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a debilitating disease with high
mortality and morbidity despite advances in treatment strategies. Globally,
approximately two-thirds of new cases occurred in men and around 77% of deaths were
in less-developed nations. There is currently very limited data on the epidemiology and
clinicopathological features of OSCC patients from the state of Sarawak. Materials and
methods: A cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with primary OSCC over a 5-year
period from 2015 to 2019 was undertaken as part of a larger study. Data such as age, sex,
ethnicity, habits, site, staging and survival were retrieved and analysed. Results: Fifty-four
patients fulfilled the selection criteria. Mean age at diagnosis was 60.83 years (SD = 12.21)
and 63.0% of patients were females. In this cohort of patients, 27.8% were Chinese, 24.1%
were Bidayuh, 22.2% were Malay, 20.4% were Iban while the remaining patients were
from other ethnicities. Twenty-two patients (40.7%) had a history of smoking tobacco
products, 15 patients (27.8%) had a history of alcohol consumption and 22 patients
(40.7%) had a history of betel-quid chewing. Eleven patients (20.4%) had a history of
smoking and chewing betel-quid. Six patients (11.1%) had a history of smoking, chewing
betel-quid and alcohol consumption. The tongue was the most frequently encountered
tumour site (42.6%) followed by buccal mucosa (25.9%) and alveolar ridge / gingiva
(25.9%). The majority of patients (70.4%) presented with late-stage disease (Stage III or
IV). Fifty-percent of the tumours were histologically graded as being well-differentiated
OSCC. Forty-one patients (75.9%) had some form of surgery as part of their treatment and
nine (16.7%) had adjuvant therapy as well. Conclusion: Our study has elucidated the
epidemiology and clinicopathological features of OSCC patients seen at a tertiary centre
in Sarawak. Some differences were seen between OSCC patients from Sarawak and West
Malaysia.

Presented at the 7 Conference of Asian Society of Head and Neck Oncology (ASHNO) on 3-5 June 2021 at the Shangri-La
th
Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Dr Hans P Sathasivam
Institute for Medical Research
National Institutes of Health
Ministry of Health
Malaysia

Dr Shim Chen Kiong
Dr Lee Sie Wei
Dr Pavithren Nadaesan
Dr Tan Yy Jean
Dr Lim Woei Tatt
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department
Hospital Umum Sarawak
Ministry of Health
Malaysia

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