# Evolution of oral and oropharyngeal cancer in the Basque Country (Spain) from 1986-1994 to 2012-2017

## TL;DR

This study examines the changes in oral and oropharyngeal cancer rates and outcomes in the Basque Country from 1986 to 2017, highlighting trends and the need for better prevention and diagnosis.

## Contribution

The study provides updated epidemiological and prognostic data on oral cancer in the Basque Country and compares it with earlier findings.

## Key findings

- Oral and oropharyngeal cancer incidence has decreased overall but increased in women, older people, and those with gingival tumors.
- The 5-year survival rate for oral-oropharyngeal cancer in the Basque Country is 50.2%.
- Squamous cell carcinomas accounted for 92.6% of tumors, with most diagnosed at advanced stages.

## Abstract

The Basque Country (Spain) is one of the European regions with the highest incidence of oral and oropharyngeal cancer, which still shows an unacceptably poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to update the epidemiological and prognostic data on oral cancer in the Basque Country and to analyse its evolution with respect to a previous study carried out in 1986-1994.

This retrospective study included all cases diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer in the Basque Country from 2012 to 2017, obtained from the Cancer Population Registry. Descriptive analysis of the epidemiological data on oral-oropharyngeal cancer and survival analysis of oral squamous cell carcinoma were performed.

A total of 1,762 cases of oral-oropharyngeal cancer were analysed. The crude incidence was 7.21 cases in women and 18.07 in men. We recognised an increase in females, older patients and gingival neoplasms. Squamous cell carcinomas accounted for 92.6% of the tumours, with 70.4% affecting males, 91.8% living in urban areas, and 50.2% diagnosed at advanced stages. The overall 5-year survival rate for oral-oropharyngeal cancer in the Basque Country was 50.2%.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancer incidence in the Basque Country has decreased overall, although it shows a progressive increase in women, older people and tumours located in the gingiva. The prognosis of oral cancer in the Basque Country is still very poor, thus it is necessary to implement specific preventive and diagnostic protocols to improve it.

Key words:Oral cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, epidemiology, prognosis, survival, gingiva.