Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Among the epithelial malignancies of the head and neck region, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) arising from the oral mucosa is the commonest type. OSCC is common in the older population; however, recent epidemiological data indicate an increase in the incidence in the younger age group. The present study was designed to compare the clinicopathological characteristics of OSCC between young and old South Indian patients. METHODS: All the histopathologically confirmed cases of OSCC were retrieved from the department archives. Patients aged more than 40 years were considered Group I, and patients aged less than or equal to 40 were considered Group II. Age, gender, laterality, site, degree of keratinization, nuclear pleomorphism, pattern of invasion, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, grade, tumor budding (TB), and tumor stroma ratio (TSR) were assessed. RESULTS: Among 510 patients reported with OSCC, 442 were aged above 40 years, and 68 were aged 40 years or younger. Nuclear pleomorphism, TB, and stroma-rich ratio were statistically higher in younger OSCC patients (p=0.00). CONCLUSION: The results of our study support the fact that OSCC in younger individuals is more aggressive. Targeting TB and tumor stroma could provide new strategies for the management of OSCC.