ESTIMATION OF SERUM IRON LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH ORAL CANCER

Background and Objectives The present study was conducted to estimate the serum levels of iron in patients with oral cancer, compare these values among patients with oral cancer and normal subjects and to correlate the values among clinical and histological grades in oral cancer. Settings This study was conducted in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College, Bangalore. Materials and Method The study consisted of 30 oral cancer patients and 30 normal subjects. Diagnosis of oral cancer was based on clinical and histopathologic findings. The patients were grouped clinically according to TNM staging given by American Joint Committee on Cancer and histopathologically as per the Broder’s classification. Serum levels of iron were estimated using semiautoanalyser and data was statistically an alysed. Data analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, V 10.5) package. Results The mean serum levels of iron were decreased in patients with Oral cancer compared to normal subjects. The mean serum levels of iron showed no change through clinical stages of Oral cancer. The mean serum levels of iron showed no change through histological stages of Oral cancer. Conclusion and Clinical significance Serum levels of these trace elements may be taken as prognostic markers of the disease progression in Oral cancer patients.