Malignant tumors of the oral cavity among Jordanians

Abstract EN

Objective : To determine the incidence of primary malignant tumors of the oral cavity in Jordan and to compare the incidence rates among Jordanian population with world standard population.

Methods : A retrospective study was conducted during the period 2000 and 2007, on 156 cases with histological diagnosis of primary malignant tumors of the oral cavity.

The cases were registered and received by active case finding from the maxillofacial departments at the Royal Medical Services Hospitals, Hospitals of the Ministry of Health, Hospitals of Jordan University and Jordan University of Science and Technology and private hospitals.

The records included the age, sex and primary site.

The age-adjusted standardized rates were calculated and the incidence rates among Jordanian population were compared with the other world standard population.

Results : Over seven years, the primary malignant tumors of the oral cavity in Jordan accounted for 156 cases, of these 96 (61.5 %) were males and 60 (38.5 %) were females, with a male to female ratio of 1.6 : 1.

The overall age-adjusted standardized rate was 5.26 per 100,000 (standard world population), and the age-adjusted standardized rates was 6.60 per 100,000 males and 3.87 per 100,000 females.

The squamous cell carcinoma was the most common accounting for 67.3 % of all oral cavity malignant tumors.

On the other hand the most frequent site of oral malignant tumors in Jordan was lips for males, accounting for 23.7 % while the tongue was the most common site of oral cavity tumor in Jordan for both sexes accounting for 18.6 %, and the age-adjusted standardized rate was somewhat equal in both sexes : 1.01 / 100,000 versus 0.96 / 100 000, respectively.

Conclusion : The age-adjusted rate of primary malignant tumors in Jordan was 5.26 per 100,000 (standard world population).

The frequency rate increased with increasing age and was more common in males.

The squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type with a tendency for a tongue cancer in both sexes and lip cancer becoming more frequent in males.