Investigating demographic reason, geographical prevalence and geographical information mapping (GIS) of oral cancer in Golestan province in 2014 to 2021

Background Oral cancer is one of the ten most common cancers, with approximately 50,000 people in the United States diagnosed with it annually. Men are more likely to develop this type of cancer than women, and it is more common in whites than in other people. This type of cancer can be very deadly if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Preparing a spatial and geographic map of this cancer can help health officials plan control and treatment, while identifying its spatial and demographic distribution. Given the importance of the subject and the lack of sufficient documentation in this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate demographic reason, geographical prevalence and geographical information mapping (GIS) of oral cancer in Golestan province in 2014 to 2021. Materials and Methods The present study is a trend study in which data from the national cancer registration system in Golestan province from 2014 to 2017 were used in the VIZIT.report system. In addition to these statistics, information about patients with oral cavity cancer was also obtained by referring to the Vice-chancellery of Health of Golestan University of Medical Sciences and added to the national system information. Then, a map of different cities in Golestan province was drawn using Arc GIS software and the incidence of oral cancer was calculated and presented by year per 100,000 population. Results The results of the present study showed that out of 390 patients with oral cavity masses referred to medical centers in Golestan province between 2014 and 2021, 200 (51.3%) were male and the rest were female. The mean age of the patients was 17.37 ± 56.18 years (range 2–96 years). The age group over 70 years with 92 cases (23.6%) was the most common group of patients. The highest number of referrals was in 2018 with 60 cases (15.4%). The most common site of involvement was the tongue with 88 cases (22.6%) and 210 cases (53.8%) of the masses were SCC in nature. Swelling and thickening of the oral tissue was the most common clinical symptom of the patients with 133 cases (34.1%). Among the cities of Golestan province, Gorgan had the most of these patients with 148 cases (37.9%). The spatial distribution of oral masses showed that the incidence rate in 2014 was related to Maraveh Tapeh with 30.43 cases per 100,000 population, in 2015 in Ramyan with 14.26, in 2016 in Maraveh Tapeh with 34.59, in 2017 in Ramyan with 16.42, in 2018 in Bandar Gaz with 24.09, in 2019 in Gomishan with 19.96, in 2019 in Ramyan with 15.18, and in 2021 in Aqqala with 10.11 per 100,000 population. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that the incidence of oral cancers in Golestan province in the studied period was between 4.25 and 6.75 per 100,000 population, and the age group over 70 years, tongue involvement, and SCC pathology were the most common cases. Gorgan had the highest frequency of oral masses, and the highest incidence in 2016 was seen in Maraveh Tapeh with 34.59 per 100,000 population.