The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a consensus document for management of buccal mucosa cancer, which is the commonest oral cavity cancer in India.  Carcinoma of buccal mucosa is relatively uncommon in developed world but common in India owing to the extensive use of tobacco in various forms particularly chewable tobacco.

This document represents the current thinking of experts on the topic based on available evidence. This has been developed by national experts in the field and does not in any way bind a clinician to follow this guideline. One can use an alternate mode of therapy based on discussions with the patient and institution, national or international guidelines. The mention of pharmaceutical drugs for therapy does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use but will act only as a guidance for clinicians in complex decision-making.

This consensus document summarises the modalities of treatment including the site-specific anti-cancer therapies, supportive and palliative care and molecular markers and research questions. It also interweaves clinical, biochemical and epidemiological studies.

The document has been designed to optimise the outcome of the patients based on the available as well as the resources at majority of the regional cancer centres. This will bring uniformity in the practice of this disease at various cancer treatment centers and thus promote seamless collaborative studies to address India specific research questions.

The theme behind the designing of the consensus document for management of cancers associated with various sites of body is to encourage all the eminent scientists and clinicians to actively participate in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers and provide educational information and support services to the patients and researchers.

Carcinoma of the buccal mucosa is the commonest oral cavity cancer in India. As per the data available from the National Cancer Registry Programme (Population Based Cancer Registries), of the ICMR, the males of Ahmedabad urban showed highest Age Adjusted Rate (AAR) for mouth cancer (12.9) followed by Bhopal (9.9). For females however, Bengaluru showed the highest AAR (6.5) followed by Kamrup urban district (5.8).   In the Hospital Based Cancer

Registry report, cancer of the mouth is also ranked as the leading site in Mumbai in males and was within the first five leading sites in all registries in males.  In the developed countries, carcinoma buccal mucosa is relatively uncommon as compared to the Indian subcontinent. The high incidence of carcinoma of the buccal mucosa in our country is attributable to the extensive use of tobacco in various forms.