INTRODUCTION

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents from 90% of malignant neoplasms

of the oral cavity, being located mainly in the tongue, especially in the lateral posterior
border. It generally affects men aged over 50, most of them with a history of high
tobacco and alcohol consumption. SCC rarely occurs in the young, i.e., patients under
the age of 40. In this group, real influence of carcinogenic factors is widely debated,
mainly regarding alcohol and tobacco. Some authors argue that these substances,
recognized as carcinogenic in older patients, may also be related to SCC etiology in
younger ones. Others, however, report that many of those patients never smoked or
drank alcoholic beverages, or, stills that duration of exposure to these agents would be
too short to induce malignant transformation.

Loco-regional recurrences and SCC prognosis in youngsters are also controversial

matters. Patients belonging to younger age range groups are considered by some
authors to bear more aggressive diseases when compared to population in the older
age ranges. Other investigators, nevertheless, have found a similar prognosis for both
evaluated age groups.

Clinical aspect of oral mucosa SCDC seems not to present distinguishing features
for any age range. Classical feature of the lesion is a persistent ulceration with
hardening and peripheral infiltration, either being associated with vegetation’s, red or
whitish staining, or not. Predominant location is lateral border of the tongue or oral
floor.

The importance of this report lies on the rarity of a SCC in a young patient (26
years old) and in the study of etiological and differential diagnosis aspects associated to
such disease in this age range.

Oral cancer is the 8th leading type of cancer in the Philippines. According to World
Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2018, oral cancer deaths make up 0.5%
of the total deaths in the country.

Epidemiology
 Approximately 300,373 new cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are
annually reported around the world, what makes oral cancer worldwide.

What are the risks and causes of tongue cancer?

We don’t know the exact causes of most head and neck cancers, but several risk factors
have been identified.

 Smoking tobacco (cigarettes, cigars and pipes)

 Regularly drinking a lot of alcohol
 Infection with a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV)

HPV is a type of virus that infects the skin and cells lining the inside of the body. For
most people, the infection will get better on its own and they will never know they had
it.

This is a common virus that causes no harm in most people. But in some people. The
virus can cause changes in the mouth and tongue that can increase the risk of cancer in
that area.

What are the symptoms of tongue cancer?

The symptoms of tongue cancer might include:

 A red or white patch on the tongue that won’t go away

 A sore throat that doesn’t go away
 A sore spot (ulcer or lump on the tongue that doesn’t go away
 Pain when swallowing
 Numbness in the mouth that won’t go away
 Pain or burning feeling over the tongue
 Problems moving your tongue (that’s not caused by biting your tongue or
another injury)
 Pain in the ear (rare)