Oral cancer and pre-cancer in Myanmar: a short review

/Home/Dental Care and Medical Concerns/Oral Cancer and Dental Health

Oral cancer and pre-cancer in Myanmar: a short review
Issue online:
03 Mar 2006
Accepted for publication September 26, 2005
To cite this article: P. A. Reichart, T. H. Way (2006)
Oral cancer and pre-cancer in Myanmar: a short review
Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine 35 (4), 193Ņ196.
doi:10.1111/j.1600-0714.2006.00390.x
Blackwell Synergy

P. A. Reichart11Department of Oral Surgery and Dental Radiology, Center for Dental Medicine, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany, T. H. Way22Thunanda Clinic, 158, N/Okkalape, Yangon, Myanmar

Peter A. Reichart, Charit», Universitātsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Zentrum f?r Zahnmedizin, Abteilung f?r Oralchirurgie und Zahnārztliche Rąntgenologie, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. Tel: 0049 Ņ 30 Ņ 450 56 26 02. Fax: 0049 Ņ 30 Ņ 450 56 29 01. E-mail: peter-a.reichart@charite.de
J Oral Pathol Med (2006) 35: 193Ņ6

Abstract
Cancer in Myanmar is one of the 10 leading causes of morbidity and mortality. In 1974, the Yangon Cancer Registry was established. From 1974 to 2001 a total of 85 298 cancer cases were registered. From 1963 to 1972 the average annual incidence rate of oral cancer was calculated to be 363 per 100 000 population. The tongue was mostly affected (31.2%). In one study, the prevalence of oral leukoplakia was 1.7%, erythroplakia 0.1%, and submucous fibrosis 0.1%. No epidemiologic studies of the prevalence of betel quid chewing (BQC) in Myanmar have been performed. One study showed that among 773 individuals over the age of 6 years, 46.4% were habitual smokers. A recent symposium on oral health stressed the necessity to introduce concepts of prevention, focusing on BQC habits and smoking as high-risk factors for oral cancer and pre-cancer in Myanmar.

Blackwell Synergy? is a Blackwell Publishing, Inc. registered trademark