Cancer Science & Therapy

Biography

Biography: Sina Ghanean

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is considered one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting the oral cavity with broad spectrum of clinical appearances. SCC is considered as the sixth major cause of malignancy mortality worldwide and one of the ten most prevalent causes of death. Almost 500000 new cases occur each year worldwide. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is responsible for more than 90% of all oral malignancies. The most common sites of oral cavity involved are the tongue, followed by the floor of the mouth and buccal mucosa. Tobacco and alcohol are the two well acknowledged risk factors of OSCC. Clinical manifestations of SCC can actually be deceptive, such as an area of ulcerations or leucoplakic, granular or verruciform growth, all demonstrating possible surface changes, so they can easily be misdiagnosed as benign neoplasms or inflammatory lesions because of variable appearances. On the other hand, due to the proximity of the dentition, OSCC can be misdiagnosed at an early stage as a tooth-related inflammatory condition, such as periodontitis or an endodontic-related disease. Nevertheless, during histopathological assessment, problems may occur at all stages, from the processing of received tissues to the generation of the final report. These errors may occur due to inevitable limitations of histopathological diagnosis and staging; imprecision in histological detection and histological misapprehension. The aims of the presentation include: 1) to illustrate potential pitfalls and probable drawbacks and issues needing clarification in diagnosis process of OSCC 2) to draw attention to lesions mimicking OSCC and 3) to suggest, where achievable, practical solutions, progress and areas of further research to avoid misdiagnosis of OSCC.