The document presents a matched-pair analysis comparing outcomes of young patients (<45 years old) and older patients (>45 years old) with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. Younger patients had fewer locoregional recurrences, and better overall and disease-specific survival rates. The study was limited by small sample size but found tentative evidence that tongue cancer in young patients may be a distinct disease influenced by factors like HPV infection rather than tobacco and alcohol use.

1. Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue in young patients: a matched-pair analysis Ching-Chih Lee Department of Otolaryngology, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan E-mail: LCC@tzuchi.com.tw