Prevalence of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) in our population: The clinic-pathological and morphological description of 198 cases.

Introduction: Head and Neck squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth commonest cancer in the world. Among the Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, carcinoma of oral cavity predominates due to high prevalence of tobacco chewing in India. The objective of the study was aimed at analyzing the site, age, sex distribution of HNSCC in our population. This study also addressed various morphological and pathological features of the tumour which are associated with recurrence and overall prognosis. Patients and Methods: We studied 198 cases of Head and Neck Squamous cell carcinoma submitted in the department of Pathology, SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar (Punjab) over the period of two years Jan 2013-Dec2014. Age, sex, clinical evaluation, lymph node involvement and histopathological findings were recorded. Results: Of the 198 patients, 164(83%) were male and 34(17%) were female. The age group varied from 25-85yrs. Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma outnumbered any other site constituting 135 cases out of total 198 cases(68.2%) followed by larynx 33/198(16.7%). In the oral cavity, tongue was the commonest site involved observed in 70 cases(51.8%) followed by buccal mucosa in 23(17%) cases of total oral cancer cases. 46.2% of the patients belonged to the 31-50yrs of age group. Moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was most prevalent (160/198: 81%) followed by well differentiated(33/198: 16.7%). Only five cases were of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. In seventy seven cases, lymph nodes were recovered. 41/77 cases showed the presence of secondary carcinomatous deposits. Conclusion: The present study was aimed at analyzing the site, age, sex distribution of Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in our population. This study also addressed various morphological and pathological features of the tumour which are associated with recurrence and overall prognosis.