Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine - Volume 65, Number 5&6, Page 370

Volume 65 Number 5&6
October/November 1998 back to contents

Oral Cancer and Oral Effects of Anticancer Therapy 370

Andrei Barasch, D.M.D., M.D.Sc.¹, Monika Safford, M.D.², And Ellen Eisenberg, D.M.D.³

From the Departments of ¹Dental Medicine and ²Medicine, New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, and ³Department of Oral Diagnosis, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT. ¹Assistant Professor; ²Assistant Professor; ³Professor and Director of Oral Pathology.
Address correspondence to Andrei Barasch, D.M.D., M.D.Sc., University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, Room C 829, 110 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07103-2400.

ABSTRACT
The term "oral cancer" generally refers to squamous cell carcinoma of oral mucosal origin, which accounts for more than 90% of all malignancies of this location. Although a relatively uncommon disease in the United States, this malignancy is nonetheless important, as it accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. Approximately half of the estimated 30 thousand cases diagnosed annually in this country have a fatal outcome. Survivors of the surgical and medical management may suffer from sequelae of treatment ranging from pain and infection to partial or total disfigurement and loss of stomatognathic function. Such high morbidity and mortality are truly regrettable, since many of these malignancies are preventable. This article will review recent developments in the epidemiology, treatment and chemoprevention of oral squamous cell carcinoma as they relate to early diagnosis, and management of the oral cancer patient.

KEY WORDS
Mouth, cancer, chemotherapy, etiology, epidemiology, radiation

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Volume 65 Number 5&6 October/November 1998	back to contents

Oral Cancer and Oral Effects of Anticancer Therapy	370
Andrei Barasch, D.M.D., M.D.Sc.¹, Monika Safford, M.D.², And Ellen Eisenberg, D.M.D.³
From the Departments of ¹Dental Medicine and ²Medicine, New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, and ³Department of Oral Diagnosis, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT. ¹Assistant Professor; ²Assistant Professor; ³Professor and Director of Oral Pathology. Address correspondence to Andrei Barasch, D.M.D., M.D.Sc., University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, Room C 829, 110 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07103-2400.