Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), also known as squamous cell cancer, is cancer that begins from squamous cells, a type of skin cell. It is one of the main types of skin cancer. The present study was a retrospective study to assess the cases of squamous cell carcinoma occurring in study population and to record the site of occurrence. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted in the department of Oral and maxillofacial surgery from year 2012-2016. All the patients with diagnosis of SCC were included in the study. It included 255 patients (male- 155, female- 100). Patients were informed regarding the study and consent was obtained. Patient data such as name, age, gender, location of SCC, etiology etc was recorded. Results: Out of 255 patients, 155 were males and 100 were females. The difference was non - significant (P -0.1). In year 2008, total patients were males (23) and females (18), in year 2009, males (34) and females (24), in year 2010, males (27) and females (23), in year 2011, males (13) and females (10), in year 2012, males (58) and females (25). The difference was non - significant (P - 0.2). Most common site was seen in gingival in both males (40) and females (29) followed by floor of mouth in males (35) and females (18), tongue in males (28) and females (15), lips in males (22) and females (10), palate in males (17) and females (8), buccal mucosa in males (5) and females (10) and other sites in males (8) and females (10). The difference was significant (P < 0.05). In male surgery alone was performed on 102 patients, radiotherapy on 12 patients, combined radiotherapy and surgery on 41 patients. In females, surgery alone was performed on 55 patients, radiotherapy on 10 patients, combined radiotherapy and surgery on 35 patients. The difference was non - significant (P > 0.05). Smoking was seen in 125 patients, alcohol alone in 25 patients, both smoking and alcohol in 75 patients and viral etiology in 30 patients. The difference was non - significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma is among common cancer occurring in mouth. Most commonly seen in males and predominant site is gingival. Main etiology recorded was smoking in various forms. Surgery was the treatment of choice in most of the cases.
Key words: Squamous cell carcinoma, gingival, palate