PATTERNS OF TOBACCO, BETEL NUTS AND SMOKE ABUSE IN RELATION TO MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF ORAL AND OROPHARNYGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS IN ASSAM

Background: Betel nut and different variants of tobacco and smoking is hazardous causing oral and or pharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). In Assam, “Tamol”, a raw, unprocessed betel nut is mixed with lime and betel leafis an alarming factor for oral and oropharyngeal SCC. Aim: To assess the patterns of tobacco, betel nuts and smoking causing variations in morphological differentiation of oral and oropharyngeal SCC. Methods: Morphological variations of 40 oral and oropharyngeal SCC’s were studied. A self answered predesigned questionnaire was used regarding the patterns and years of abuse of tobacco, betel nuts and smoking. Results: 90% of cases show tobacco prevalence, 90% show betel nut prevalence in the form of raw betel nut (58.3%), dried betel nut (27.8%) and betel nut in the form of panmasala/gutkha (13.9%). 50 % show smoking prevalence in the form of beed is (80%), cigarettes (10%) and weeds (10%) respectively. Among 22 cases of well differentiated SCC, 86.3%, 90.9% and 36.3% consumed tobacco, betel nuts and smoke respectively for at least 10 years. Among 16 cases of moderately differentiated SCC, 93.7%, 87.5% and 62.5% consumed tobacco, betel nuts and smoke respectively for at least 22 years. Among 02 cases of poorly differentiated SCC, 100% cases consumed tobacco, betel nuts and smoke for at least 42 years. Conclusion: Different patterns of tobacco, betel nut and smoking explain various morphological differentiation of oral and oropharyngeal SCC.