Global Patterns and Trends in Cancers of the Lip, Tongue and Mouth

Objectives: Global descriptions of international patterns and trends in oral cancer are informative in providing insight into the shifting epidemiologic patterns and the potential prevention of these tumours. We present global statistics on these cancers using the comprehensive set of national estimates and recorded data collated at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Methods: The estimated number of lip and oral cavity cases and deaths in the 185 countries for the year 2018 was extracted from IARC's GLOBOCAN database of national estimates. To examine trends, recorded data series on lip and oral cavity cancers, as well as corresponding population-at-risk data were extracted from successive volumes of Cancer Incidence in Five Continents.

Results: Globally, the highest incidence was found in South-Central Asia and parts of Oceania, with the highest estimated incidence rates in Papua New Guinea, Pakistan and India. The highest observed rates of lip cancer were in Australia, while India had the highest incidence rates of mouth and oral tongue cancer. Trends are diverse, with lip cancer incidence rates continuing to decrease for both sexes; the incidence rates of mouth cancer are also in decline in males, although increasing rates among females were observed in some populations.

Conclusion: There are some grounds for optimism given the prospects for control of these cancers. Primary prevention should however focus on the reduction of the main causes, namely, tobacco and alcohol consumption.