LAUSR

Aim To perform an epidemiological and clinical analysis of cases of oral cancer (OC) and potentially malignant disorders (PMDs). Subjects and methods This retrospective study was based on the analysis of data from 631 patients who attended a clinic of the Interdisciplinary League of Oral Cancer (LINCCO) of a public university of northeastern Brazil over a time period of 12 years. Sociodemographic, economic, and clinical variables were investigated. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses using Poisson regression were performed. Results During the analyzed period, 19.3% ( n  = 122) of cases were related to diagnoses of some type of OC or PMDs. The majority of patients were male (60.7%) and in the fifth (22.0%) or sixth (23.7%) decades of life. The reported smoking and alcohol consumption were 27.0% and 27.9%, respectively. The most prevalent lesions were actinic cheilitis (48.4%) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (23.8%). The most affected anatomical region was the lower lip (45.1%). The prevalence of smoking was higher among those who presented with OC [prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.54–4.24, p  < 0.001)] compared to those who presented with a PMD. Conclusion Public health managers and the scientific community should continue to direct efforts to raise public awareness about protective and preventive measures for OC and PMDs, including early diagnosis and frequent visits to the dentist. Otherwise, the rates of these injuries may continue to grow exponentially, significantly impacting the health indicators of the population.