Zohreh Dalirsani - ۱. Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ۲. Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Zahra Delavarian - ۱. Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ۲. Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Atessa Pakfetrat - ۱. Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ۲. Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Fateme Akbarzade Mahlabani - Dentist, Tehran, Iran
Mahboobeh Taherizadeh - Master student in Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Ala Ghazi - ۱. Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ۲. Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. Since there are many factors that influence the development of cancer, identifying risk factors plays an important role in cancer prevention. The aim of this study was therefore to identify the risk factors for HNSCC in Mashhad, Iran.Methods: In this case-control study, ۷۶ patients with HNSCC were included as the case and ۹۱ healthy people as the control group. A checklist of risk factors was completed for each participant and the two groups were compared for the presence of risk factors. Chi-square, t test, and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the data. Odds ratios (ORs) for several factors have also been determined.Findings: The educational level and body mass index (BMI) of the patients in the case group were significantly lower than in the control group (P<۰.۰۰۱). Moreover, there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of risk factors such as tobacco smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and its duration (P=۰.۰۰۱, P<۰.۰۰۱, P=۰.۰۵), as well as the duration of hookah smoking, opium consumed per day and use of alcohol (P=۰.۰۲۳, P<۰.۰۰۱, P=۰.۰۱۵).Conclusion: There was a direct relationship between HNSCC and risk factors such as cigarette smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, duration of cigarette consumption and hookah, opium consumed per day, and alcohol use. However, extensive studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better assess the impact of these factors and generalize the results.

Carcinoma, Squamous cell, Head and Neck neoplasms, risk factors, smoking, Alcohols, Body mass index