The main objective of this study was to describe selected clinico-pathological characteristics of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) in Sri-Lanka. The study sample comprised of eight hundred and ninety six biopsies diagnosed as OSCC. The clinical and histopathological features were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Of the 896 biopsies, 801 were primary OSCCs, while 95 were recurrent OSCCs. Majority of the patients (78 %) were in the 5th to 7th decades of life and showed a male predilection. The buccal mucosa was the commonest site of primary OSCC comprising of 43 % of the sample. Of the primary OSCCs, with known TNM stage, 86 % were in stage 3&4 and majority (59 %) of stage 4 tumours showed tumour at one or more excision margins. Of the recurrent OSCC, 46 % developed their recurrences within one year of the excision of the primary tumour. In Sri-Lanka, OSCC is a major problem. Only half the patients had completely excised tumours (with clearance of >5 mm at all excision margins) at operation, and recurrences appeared early. This data should be considered in the future management policy of OSCC in Sri-Lanka.

The adenomatoid odontogenic tumor is a relatively uncommon odontogenic neoplasm representing about 4.7% of all odontogenic tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical profile of the adenomatoid odontogenic tumors in a Sri Lankan population. Data gathered from the cases received for a period of 38 years from the Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya. Request forms, biopsy reports and electronic data base of the department were used to obtain relevant information. Demographic data including age, gender and location of the tumor were included in the analysis. Out of 116 cases of adenomatoid odontogenic tumor, the mean age was 21.02 ± 11.24. It occurs more fre quently in the second decade of life, more prevalent in females, most often associated with the maxilla, predominantly affecting anterior jaw bones and presenting mostly in the right side of the jaw bone. The results from the present study showed the statistically significant relationship with site of occurrence (maxilla/mandible) and age (p < 0.005). Further, depending on whether it occurs in anterior/mid/posterior site also showed a significant relationship with age (p ≤ 0.001). However, side of occurrence, left or right or site of occurrence, showed no statistically significance with age (p > 0.05). Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor occurs more frequently in the second decade of life with a significant female predominance and the commonest site is anterior maxilla. This study revealed few differences on demographic and clinical presentations of adenomatoid odontogenic tumor from some regions of the world.

In the recent years, basaloid squamous cell carcinomas (BSCCs) have gained attention because of (1) observation of a relative increase in the number of tumors arising particularly in head and neck sites, (2) identification of human papillomavirus (HPV) in BSCCs arising predominantly in the oropharynx, and (3) controversies that exist regarding the biological aggressiveness of the tumor. The objective of the present review was to address the issues mentioned above by focusing primarily on oral BSCCs, using literature that has been published in the English language up to 2013. According to the literature review, oral BSCCs were found to be relatively more common in elderly patients with a mean age of 64 years. A male predominance with a male/female ratio of 3:1 was observed. The predominant site was the tongue, with almost half of the reported cases occurring at this site, followed by the floor of the mouth and palate. With reference to habit history, majority were found to be tobacco and alcohol users. However, only 3 studies revealed data on HPV status of purely oral BSCC, and according to the results of these studies, of the 17 tumors tested, 4 had harbored high-risk HPV. Furthermore, most oral BSCCs were in an advanced clinical stage, namely, stage III or IV with T3 or T4 lesions and cervical lymph node metastasis at initial presentation, whereas 41% of patients had presented with local recurrences and 45% had died of the disease. In conclusion, although, the present literature review found enough evidence to consider tobacco and alcohol as risk factors for the development of oral BSCC, steps should be taken to fill the gap in our knowledge that exist with reference to contribution of oncoviruses, particularly HPV in the etiology of oral BSCC.