Clinicopathological Characteristics of Oral Malignant Lesions and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: A Retrospective Hospital-Based Case Series.

BACKGROUND

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are clinically significant lesions associated with malignant change, while malignant lesions represent established disease. Histopathological evaluation plays a key role in diagnosis within hospital-based biopsy services.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinicopathological characteristics and anatomical distribution of oral malignant lesions and OPMDs in a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional hospital-based case series included 1096 patients who underwent oral biopsy between 2020 and 2025. Only biopsy-confirmed malignant lesions and OPMDs were included, whereas benign oral lesions were excluded. Demographic, anatomical, biopsy, and histopathological data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Males comprised 56.6% and females 43.4% of cases, with the highest lesion frequency in the 51-60-year age group (28.5%). Within this selected biopsy cohort, malignant lesions accounted for 64.8% and OPMDs for 35.2%. OSCC was the most common malignant lesion (44.9%), followed by verrucous carcinoma (23.2%). Leukoplakia with dysplasia (50.3%) and oral submucous fibrosis (27.2%) were the most frequent OPMDs. Buccal mucosa predominated in malignant lesions, whereas OPMDs were more common on the tongue.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective hospital-based case series provides descriptive clinicopathological insights into oral malignant lesions and OPMDs within a tertiary referral setting. Findings reflect a selected biopsy population.