Finger length ratio has been proposed as a putative marker for prenatal hormone 
exposure, as well as the action of HOX, AR, and a variant of the LIN28b genes. 
These genes have been recently connected to carcinogenesis and digit ratio could 
help to identify patients with this predisposition.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible 
correlations between digit ratio, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)-the most 
common oral cancer-and oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) in tobacco-consuming 
males, the main risk group for this disease.
METHODS: Digital images of the right hands of patients diagnosed with OSCC (n = 
25), OPLs (n = 25), and age-matched controls (n = 25) were obtained. Fingers 
were measured using Adobe Photoshop and the mean ratios between the 2nd and 4th 
digits were compared. Data were analyzed by ANOVA (α = 0.05).
RESULTS: Risk factors (alcohol and tobacco consumption, familial history) were 
similar between the three study groups. Males in the OSCC group presented 
significantly higher digit ratio (P = 0.03) in comparison with males with OPLs 
and individuals without oral lesions.
CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, males with the higher digit ratio seem to 
be more prone to undergo malignization of lesions in the oral cavity. Similar 
deleterious habits for the three groups allows us to infer that digit ratio 
could add to the research of etiological factors and be a putative marker for 
the screening of patients' susceptibility to develop oral squamous cell 
carcinoma.