Unraveling the relationship among lifestyle, tumor eruption site, histopathological grading, and oral squamous cell carcinoma: A clinicopathological study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship among lifestyle practices, histopathological grading, and tumour site in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and to assess their effect on clinicopathological outcomes.

Methodology: The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at JPMC and PNS Shifa Hospitals, Karachi comprising 107 OSCC patients diagnosed between September 2024 to August 2025. Data on risk factors, tumor eruption sites and grading of tumor were documented. The clinicopathological outcomes included TNM staging and mortality of patients during period of study. Associations between clinicopathological variables and outcomes were assessed using chi-square / Fisher’s exact test. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Most common tumor site was buccal mucosa 62(57.9%). Areca nut was the frequent most consumed smokeless tobacco 69 (64.4%). A significant association was found between lifestyle risk factors and staging. Trend analysis documented a progressive shift toward advanced stage with increasing grade. The estimated mean survival time was longest for Grade-I tumors (336 days).

Conclusion: Smokeless tobacco in form of areca nut was the most prevalent risk factor and buccal mucosa the most common location of cancer. The lifestyle risk factors showed significant association with staging. Increasing grade was found to decrease the survival.