India has one of the highest incidence of Oral cancer in the world(Ref.1). The

high incidence of oral cancer and oral pre-cancerous lesions in India has long

been linked with the habit of betel quid chewing incorporating tobacco. Oral

cancer ranks number one among men and number three among women in India. Oral cancer constitutes 12% of all cancers in men and 8% of all cancers among women. (Ref.2).

Oral cancer is a major health problem in India.

In India it is estimated that among the 400 million individuals aged 15 years

and over 47% use tobacco in one form or the other(ref.3) there are many

interesting forms of tobacco use in India eg. Reverse smoking.

Annual incidence rate is estimated to be 64,460. However total number of cases

at any given will be 2.5 to 3 times higher than this number (Ref.3)

It is unfortunate that so far no proper epidemiological data on this disease is

available in India. Information currently available is mostly on the basis of

crude incidence rate available from three metropolitan cities covered under

National cancer registry project.

References:

1.Hamada G.S.et al: Comparative epiemiology of oral cancer in Brazil & India.Tokai J Exp. Clin. Med. 1991 Mar. 16(1)63-72

2. Sankaranarayanan R.:Oral caner in India: An epidemiologic and clinical

review. Oral Sirg. Oral Med. Oral Path.69:325-330,1990.

3.Mehta F.S.; Hamner J.E.:Tobacco related oral mucosal lesions and conditions

in India.Tata Inst. of Fundamental Research.1993.