High incidence of oral malignancies is attributed to: (A) Use of pan, (B) Poor hygiene, (C) High incidence of HPV, (D) Poor nutrition
Answer is A. In the Indian subcontinent, the use of 'pan' (a combination of betel nut, areca nut, lime and tobacco), as well as reverse smoking (smoking a cheroot with the burning end inside the mouth), are responsible for the high incidence of oral cancer. Betel quid appears to be the major carcinogen, although there is also a relationship between slaked lime and the areca nut and cancer.Ref: Bailey and love pg: 760