Survival Rates Comparable in Children and Adults with Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Cancer

Does young age adversely affect prognosis for oral squamous cell carcinoma?

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma in young patients (<40 years of age) is believed to have an etiology that is distinct from squamous cell cancer in older patients because these patients have had less exposure to risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use. Younger patients were historically believed to have a more aggressive disease with poorer outcomes, but recent analyses have shown equivalent survival with equivalent appropriate therapy. Little is known about survival and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in the pediatric population.

Study design: Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients (defined as age less than or equal to 20 years) with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue treated from 1983 to 2009. Adult patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue were matched to the pediatric group by sex, tobacco exposure, tumor, nodal and metastasis stage and treatment.