Prevalence of Oral Cancer in South India – A Systematic Review
Parkavi Ezhilan, John BaliahAbstract
Background:
Oral cancer (OC) is the sixth most common cancer globally and the third most common cancer in India.
Objective:
To evaluate the prevalence of OC and its associated factors in South India.
Methods:
This review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The databases used for the literature search were Medline via PubMed, Google Scholar, and ProQuest for all relevant research published in the English language between 2015 and 2025.
Results:
Seven cross-sectional studies were included in the qualitative synthesis by screening 410 records. The prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the studied populations ranged from 0.2% to 3.5%. The principal risk factors were tobacco, whereas limited virological data suggested highrisk human papillomavirus (HPV) negative tumors.
Conclusion:
The present review indicates only a moderate, but clinically significant burden of OC in South India. The prevalence data of OC in South Indian states, especially based on community population, remain sparse and methodologically heterogeneous. This indicates the need for a standardized and well-designed epidemiological study across the region.