Field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors: insights from a case-cohort study
BackgroundField cancerization (FC) is a well-documented phenomenon in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), typically reported in patients with known risk habits such as tobacco and alcohol use. To date, limited evidence exists regarding FC in individuals without traditional carcinogenic exposures, a...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oral Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1653210/full |
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| author | Martina Coppini Martina Coppini Giuseppe Seminara Giuseppe Seminara Rodolfo Mauceri Rodolfo Mauceri Olga Di Fede Gaetano La Mantia Gaetano La Mantia Nicola Mauceri Valeria Cancila Vito Rodolico Giuseppina Campisi Giuseppina Campisi |
| author_facet | Martina Coppini Martina Coppini Giuseppe Seminara Giuseppe Seminara Rodolfo Mauceri Rodolfo Mauceri Olga Di Fede Gaetano La Mantia Gaetano La Mantia Nicola Mauceri Valeria Cancila Vito Rodolico Giuseppina Campisi Giuseppina Campisi |
| author_sort | Martina Coppini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundField cancerization (FC) is a well-documented phenomenon in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), typically reported in patients with known risk habits such as tobacco and alcohol use. To date, limited evidence exists regarding FC in individuals without traditional carcinogenic exposures, as well as in those associated with chronic mechanical trauma. The study aims to report a case series of FC in patients without well-known risk habits observed in the last two years.Material and methodsThis study is a retrospective cohort study conducted at the Unit of Oral Medicine “V. Margiotta” of the University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone” in Palermo (Italy). Between January 2023 and February 2025, a total of 64 patients affected by OSCC were observed. All cases were histologically confirmed through biopsy. For the present study, we focused specifically on the subgroup of patients who developed synchronous and/or metachronous lesions during this period.ResultsA retrospective analysis was conducted on eight female patients (mean age: 75.5 ± 10.3 years) diagnosed with multifocal OSCC. Three patients presented with synchronous lesions, three with metachronous lesions, and two developed both types over time. Six patients (75%) were denture wearers.ConclusionsThis study highlights the relevance of FC in elderly OSCC patients with no history of traditional carcinogenic exposures, except for the high prevalence of denture use, which, however, cannot be considered a clear causal factor. Long-term clinical and radiological surveillance is essential for early detection of multifocal lesions, thereby improving prognosis and patient quality of life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2d5d80199d0e495eaafbce33d9f7ee0f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4842 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oral Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d5d80199d0e495eaafbce33d9f7ee0f2025-08-20T03:36:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oral Health2673-48422025-08-01610.3389/froh.2025.16532101653210Field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors: insights from a case-cohort studyMartina Coppini0Martina Coppini1Giuseppe Seminara2Giuseppe Seminara3Rodolfo Mauceri4Rodolfo Mauceri5Olga Di Fede6Gaetano La Mantia7Gaetano La Mantia8Nicola Mauceri9Valeria Cancila10Vito Rodolico11Giuseppina Campisi12Giuseppina Campisi13Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyUnit of Oral Medicine and Dentistry for Frail Patients, Department of Rehabilitation, Fragility, and Continuity of Care, Regional Center for Research and Care of MRONJ, University Hospital Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyUnit of Oral Medicine and Dentistry for Frail Patients, Department of Rehabilitation, Fragility, and Continuity of Care, Regional Center for Research and Care of MRONJ, University Hospital Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyUnit of Oral Medicine and Dentistry for Frail Patients, Department of Rehabilitation, Fragility, and Continuity of Care, Regional Center for Research and Care of MRONJ, University Hospital Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyBackgroundField cancerization (FC) is a well-documented phenomenon in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), typically reported in patients with known risk habits such as tobacco and alcohol use. To date, limited evidence exists regarding FC in individuals without traditional carcinogenic exposures, as well as in those associated with chronic mechanical trauma. The study aims to report a case series of FC in patients without well-known risk habits observed in the last two years.Material and methodsThis study is a retrospective cohort study conducted at the Unit of Oral Medicine “V. Margiotta” of the University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone” in Palermo (Italy). Between January 2023 and February 2025, a total of 64 patients affected by OSCC were observed. All cases were histologically confirmed through biopsy. For the present study, we focused specifically on the subgroup of patients who developed synchronous and/or metachronous lesions during this period.ResultsA retrospective analysis was conducted on eight female patients (mean age: 75.5 ± 10.3 years) diagnosed with multifocal OSCC. Three patients presented with synchronous lesions, three with metachronous lesions, and two developed both types over time. Six patients (75%) were denture wearers.ConclusionsThis study highlights the relevance of FC in elderly OSCC patients with no history of traditional carcinogenic exposures, except for the high prevalence of denture use, which, however, cannot be considered a clear causal factor. Long-term clinical and radiological surveillance is essential for early detection of multifocal lesions, thereby improving prognosis and patient quality of life.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1653210/fulloral cancermouth neoplasmsOSCCfield cancerizationrisk factorswomen |
| spellingShingle | Martina Coppini Martina Coppini Giuseppe Seminara Giuseppe Seminara Rodolfo Mauceri Rodolfo Mauceri Olga Di Fede Gaetano La Mantia Gaetano La Mantia Nicola Mauceri Valeria Cancila Vito Rodolico Giuseppina Campisi Giuseppina Campisi Field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors: insights from a case-cohort study Frontiers in Oral Health oral cancer mouth neoplasms OSCC field cancerization risk factors women |
| title | Field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors: insights from a case-cohort study |
| title_full | Field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors: insights from a case-cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors: insights from a case-cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors: insights from a case-cohort study |
| title_short | Field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors: insights from a case-cohort study |
| title_sort | field cancerization in women without conventional risk factors insights from a case cohort study |
| topic | oral cancer mouth neoplasms OSCC field cancerization risk factors women |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1653210/full |
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