Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common subtypes of oral cavity cancer involving the oral cavity. worldwide, associated with high morbidity and mortality. A study by the International Agency for research on oral cancer has reported that the incidence of oral cancer in India may increase from 1 million to more than 1.7 million from 2012 to 2035.
Aims: A prospective study over 2 years was designed to assess the clinical presentation, age and gender most commonly affected, site, and histopathological variant.
Settings and Design: Prospective Study, Descriptive Data, Cross-Sectional Design.
Methods and Material: A detailed questionnaire was designed to assess the incidence of oral cancer over a period of 2 years among patients visiting Government Medical College and General Hospital, Nizamabad, Telangana. A total of 118 patients with suspected Oral Cancer were screened and their biopsies performed.
Statistical analysis used: Descriptional Analysis of Data.
Results: 69 were males (58.47%) and the rest 49 (41.53%) were females. Major incidence was noted in the 5th decade of life. Clinical presentation varied from the ulcer (54.2%), swelling (20.5%), ulcer and swelling (11.8%), and swelling of the neck along with ulcer in primary site (13.5%). 49.2% of the patients presented with a lesion in the tongue making it the highest prone site. 94% of the patients were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma followed by 4% as verrucous carcinoma and 2% as sarcoma.
Conclusions: The incidence of oral cancer is low in Nizamabad District. The presentation of oral cancer is similar to other regions. Males have a higher rate of incidence as compared to females. Tongue remains to be the site with the highest incidence which correlates with similar findings in other regions of the world.

Key words: Oral Cancer, Smoking, Squamous cell Carcinoma, Nizamabad, Telangana