Frequency, Clinical Presentation and Risk Factors of Carcinoma of Cheek in Patients Presenting at JPMC Karachi.

Objective: To assess the frequency, clinical presentation, and associated risk factors of carcinoma cheek in patients presenting at Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at ENT outpatient department of JPMC, Karachi, Pakistan. Two years data of patients with complain of non-healing ulcer of buccal mucosa for more than 4 weeks duration irrespective of age and gender were retrieved from medical record. Biopsy confirmed cases of carcinoma of cheek were noted along with the treatment history of the positive patients. The detailed history of the patients regarding demographic characteristics, smoking habits, and chewable tobacco habits were noted. Results: Of 330 patients, the mean age of the patients was 44.36 ±7.32 years. There were 251 (76.1%) males and 79 (23.9%) females. Carcinoma of cheek was observed in 277 (83.9%) patients. A significant association of carcinoma of cheek was observed with age (p-value <0.001), occupation (p-value 0.004), residence (p-value <0.001), marital status (p-value 0.031), and addiction of chewable tobacco (p-value <0.001). The chances of cheek carcinoma were 9 times significantly higher among addicted chewable tobacco patients as compared to those patients' who did not addict of chewable tobacco (aOR 9.48, 95% CI 1.88 - 47.6). Conclusion: The study revealed that carcinoma of cheek was considerably higher among patients presented with non-healing ulcer of buccal mucosa for more than 4 weeks duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]