Epidemiological features of oral cancer – a world public health matter

Abstract

The objective of this present paper is to evaluate the impact of oral cancer over the international public health status and to search for its predictor factors heading for early intervention attempting to reduce its incidence and mortality rates. This critical review takes into account several publications related to oral cancer epidemiology searching for international data. Annually, over 300.000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed all over the world where the majority is in the advanced stages III or IV. Such data make the oral cancer an important public health matter which is responsible for 3% to 10% of cancer mortality worldwide. Ethnology, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle like dietary and bad habits, leukoplakia and eritroplakia are considered, by several authors, as important predictor factors for the oral cancer incidence. It is possible to conclude that the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer can be reduced by means of health promotion policies its early detection and the development of healthy lifestyle. Key words: Oral cancer epidemiology. Predictors. Incidence and mortality rates.