Age- and Sex-Specific Trends in Oral Cavity Cancer Cancers in a Single Institution From 2000 to 2019 in Korea

Abstract

Background and Objectives Head and neck cancer (HNC) represents a significant public health challenge worldwide, impacting mortality rates and economic resources. This study aimed to analyze the age- and sex-specific trends in the prevalence and prognosis of HNCs over two decades.Subjects and Method A retrospective analysis was conducted utilizing data collected during the period of 2000 to 2019 from the hospital’s Head and Neck Cancer Center.Results We observed that, of the 4167 HNC patients analyzed, the proportion of female with this cancer has remained unchanged over the past two decades. However, the proportion of patients under 40 years of age with oral cavity cancer has significantly increased. We observed a significant improvement in the 3-year overall survival (OS) in HNCs during 2010-2019 compared to 2000-2009. This improvement was particularly pronounced in male, whereas no significant change was observed in female. Notably, the 3-year OS has significantly improved over the past decade for advanced-stage (III & IV) patients.Conclusion The incidence of oral cavity cancer has increased among patients under 40 years of age over the past two decades. Additionally, the prognosis of oral cavity cancer patients notably improved, particularly in male under 40 years of age.