Background: Precancerous lesions precede the development of oral cancer; of several clinical types the most common is leukoplakia. The risk factors include tobacco and excess alcohol use and diets low in antioxidants. Studies concerning the management of risk factors related to oral precancer are meager.
Objectives: We investigated the effectiveness of smoking cessation at a dysplasia clinic among patients followed up for at least for 12 months.
Methods: Data from case notes relating to 180 patients with white and red patches of oral mucosa (excluding other benign disorders confirmed by biopsy findings) attending a dysplasia clinic at a teaching hospital in London and seen by one consultant between 1993 and 2003 were transcribed. Effect of referring to a smoker's clinic to receive specialist help was evaluated against brief advice given at the dysplasia clinic +/- medications.
Results: The mean age at the first visit was 48.5 years (+/-12.5), 65% were male, and 88% were white European. One hundred and sixty-two patients (90%) had used tobacco and 83% were current smokers. Of the smokers 95% had smoked over 10 years, the majority smoking over 10 cigarettes per day. Nine were alcohol misusers including two binge drinkers. One hundred and forty-six were diagnosed with oral leukoplakia, 16 with non-homogeneous types (speckled or nodular). Three patients were diagnosed with an erythroplakia. Nineteen per cent exhibited the presence of dysplasia and one subject had in situ carcinoma. Five patients in the sample quit smoking prior to arrival in the dysplasia clinic. Twenty-seven cases (20%) with oral leukoplakia quit smoking while registered as a patient at the dysplasia clinic: 17 of 100 subjects quit with brief advice +/- medications and 10 of 30 following referral to the smoker's clinic. The difference between the two groups was significant for point prevalence abstinence at the last visit to the clinic (minimum 12 months follow up). Out of a total of 180 precancer cases managed in the dysplasia clinic (mean follow up 4.2 years) three patients subsequently developed invasive carcinoma during follow up.
Conclusions: Smoking cessation needs to be an integral component of management of cases attending a dysplasia clinic and referring to smoker's clinics could help to improve the effectiveness of managing patients with oral precancer to quit smoking.