Impact of varying anatomic sites on advanced stage and survival of oral cancer: 9‐year prospective cohort of 27 717 cases

Background To elucidate the impact of varying anatomic sites on advanced stage of and death from oral cancer. Methods A total of 27 717 oral cancers mainly from a population‐based visual inspection program in Taiwan from 2004 to 2009 was followed until the end of 2012. Results Using lip cancer as reference, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) of advanced stage of cancer were 2.20 (1.92‐2.51) for tongue, 2.60 (2.28‐2.97) for buccal, 2.68 (2.20‐3.28) for floor of mouth, 2.96 (2.52‐3.47) for hard palate, 6.04 (5.17‐7.05) for gingiva, and 10.83 (9.20‐12.74) for oropharynx. The estimated hazard ratios (95% CI) for oral cancer death increased from 1.48 (1.31‐1.67) in buccal, 1.61 (1.43‐1.82) in tongue, 1.68 (1.41‐1.99) in floor of mouth, 1.79 (1.57‐2.05) in gingiva, 1.97 (1.71‐2.26) in hard palate, and 2.15 (1.89‐2.45) in oropharynx. Conclusion Different anatomic sites had variations in advanced stage of and death from oral cancer and need vigilant surveillance.