Carcinoma of the buccal mucosa is relatively uncommon as compared with other oral cavity cancers but they have the propensity to become aggressive, with high rates of locoregional recurrence. Early stage diagnosis and intervention leads to significantly improved prognosis and function over advanced disease. This article describes the effective approach to the management of buccal carcinomas. Buccal cancers are mostly squamous cell carcinomas that often start as a lump or a patch in the mucosal lining of the cheeks inside the mouth.
Buccal carcinomas occur more often in men, with a male to female ratio of 4:1. The incidence of buccal carcinoma is much higher in Asia. In India, buccal carcinoma is the most common cancer in men and the third most common cancer in women, with most cases occurring between the ages of 40 – 70 years. Tobacco and alcohol use are the main causative agents…
