The Changing Profile of Autopsies Caused by Oral Cancer in Slovakia, 2010–2019

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the mortality rate and autopsy rate of oral cancer (malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx) over a ten-year period. The percentage change of autopsy rate of oral cancer will be evaluated. Material and Methods: The study sample was divided into two age sub-categories: 1) patients who died of oral cancer and were autopsied in a period 2010–2014 and 2) patients who died of oral cancer and were autopsied in a period 2015–2019. Data from oral cancer death patients (n=6,313) and autopsy patients caused oral cancer (n=251) between 2010–2019 were obtained from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The percentage change of autopsy rate was evaluated by Chi-squared test. Statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05. Results: The highest autopsy rate of malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx was found in 2017 (4.1%). It was observed growing trendy of autopsy rate of malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx in the period 2010–2019 (R²=0.059). It was found decrease of percentage change of autopsy rate in malignant neoplasm of pyriform sinus (-75.3%). A significant increase of percentage change of autopsy rate was found in malignant neoplasm of tonsil (216.1%; p=0.021). Conclusion: This study provides one of the larger epidemiology overviews of oral cancer autopsies presented so far in Slovakia.