Clinical and histopathological study of oral cancers in a tertiary care hospital, Tumakuru

India is a country where chewing pan, beetle-areca with lime is common among all age group. External and local irritation of buccal mucosa is associated with high risk of cancer. It may begin as a local lesion or by metastasis or by local extension from neighbor structure. Biopsy and histopathology is definitive tool for diagnosing such lesions. The present study is a retrospective study done involving patients of three years in a tertiary referral hospital in Tumakuru. The objective of the study is to know the prevalence, type of cancer affecting the individuals. A total of 168 oral cancer patients were observed during the study, showed increased risk in males. Peak incidence was seen in individuals belonging to 35-55 year age group. Most common site of lesion was buccal mucosa followed by tongue. Most common type of cancer was squamous cell carcinoma followed by basal cell carcinoma and other minor types.