UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: To study and correlate the incidence of Palatal cancers with chutta or reverse smoking, in one year, among patients registered with the Hospital based Cancer registry.

Methods: Patients registered with the hospital based cancer registry from December 2003 to November 2004 were included in the study. Oral cancer patients were interviewed for their smoking habit. The histopathology, the tumor stage, socio-economic status, and the literacy were recorded. Followed up for six months after treatment. Tobacco chewing and sniffing were excluded.

Results:

Of 1306 patients registered, 222(16.9%) had oral cancers, 68(30.6%) had palatal cancers, accounting for (5.2%) of all cancers. The Male:Female ratio was 5:8.Fifty three (77.9%) had hard palate and 15(20.1%) had soft palate cancer. The median age is 54 for females and 56 for males. History of Chutta smoking ranges from 5.2 to 31 years, with a median of 12years. 86% of all patients gave history of Chutta smoking and its 100% among women. Histopathologically 82% had well differentiated squamous cell carcinomas and 62% had stage IV disease. 86% are from rural areas and 96% were illiterates with poor socioeconomic status External beam radiotherapy was given and only 62% had partial or minimal response and 52% had progressive disease with in 6 months. CONCLUSIONS 1.Chutta is the cause of tobacco induced palatal cancer, particularly of hard palate. 2.Welldifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma is more common. 3.More common among the women then men. 4.Majority presented with advanced stage due to illiteracy and poor socioeconomic status 5.Very resistant to treatment.