Electronic Cigarettes Versus Combustible Cigarettes in Oral Squamous Cell Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with tobacco. In order to reduce the burden of smoking, e-cigarettes emerge as devices to aid cessation of tobacco addiction. However, growing evidence shows that e-cigarettes can lead to harmful effects.

Objetives: The aim is to analyze the prevalence of combustible or electronic cigarette smoking in patients with a diagnosis of OSCC, analyze the prevalence of precancerous lesions in smokers of combustible or electronic cigarettes, and describe the location and differentiation of OSCC.

Methodology: PRISMA guidelines were followed. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were used, introducing specific algorithms related to electronic and combustible cigarettes associated with OSCC.

Results: Of 400 potentially eligible articles, 15 met the inclusion criteria: 13 studies on combustible and 2 on e-cigarettes. Regarding combustible, the mean smoking prevalence in patients was 56.38% with a prevalence of precancerous lesions of 2.50%, among other parameters. For the e-cigarette group, the mean prevalence was 4.26% with a prevalence of precancerous lesions of 2.20%. Tongue and lower lip are common and frequent locations in both cigarettes.

Conclusions: Despite certain limitations, developing OSCC is mostly associated with combustible cigarettes and to a lesser extent with e-cigarettes. Both cigarettes show a similar prevalence of precancerous lesions, with the tongue as a common and frequent location.