Mucosal condition of the oral cavity and sites of origin of squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the clinical appearance of the affected mucosa in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the oral and oropharyngeal region.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The mucosal conditions of 396 patients was classified into two types. Type A, showing ulcer formation and/or tumor formation, and type B, showing only mucosal enlargement without any other abnormality.

RESULTS

Type A was detected in the oral cavity and oropharynx, and type B was observed only in the upper and lower alveolus and gingiva. Of 14 type B patients histologically evaluated for the relationship between the tumor cells and surface oral epithelium, 10 showed a disconnection between the epithelium and the tumor cells, whereas in two the tumor cells extended into the epithelium.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that SCC of type B is not of oral epithelial origin, but is of maxillary sinus epithelium or odontogenic cell origin. In the mandible, type B SCC originates from odontogenic epithelium (odontogenic carcinoma).