Epidemiologic Profile of Oropharyngeal Cancer in the State of Piauí

Introduction: Oropharyngeal cancer is a worldwide health issue. Traditionally, alcohol and tobacco consumption are considered the primary risk factors for this disease. However, recent studies suggest that a change in the epidemiologic profile of this disease is currently under way, mainly because of the emergence of a new risk factor: human papillomavirus infection.

Objectives: This study aims to understand to what extent this change has occurred in the state of Piaui, we set out to study the epidemiologic profile of oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods: Our study was based on collecting data from medical records of all the patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in two hospitals in Teresina, Piaui, from January 2011 to December 2013. Quantitative data were presented using medium ± standard deviation and qualitative data were presented using proportions. Difference between groups was investigated by analysis of variance and possible association between variables by chi-square test.

Results: Overall 86 patients were eligible to participate in this study, the majority being male (72.9%), and frequent users of alcohol or tobacco or both (75.3%), with ages varying more frequently from 40 to 80 years (81.2%). Well-differentiated tumors were more common (43.8%). Gender and use of alcohol or tobacco were not associated with tumor differentiation or T-classification at diagnosis. Age of diagnosis was associated with T-classification, however, with T1-stage patients having a higher age.

Conclusions: Until today, there has been no significant shift in the epidemiological aspects of oropharyngeal carcinoma in the state of Piaui.