BACKGROUND: Cancer of the oral cavity is one of the commonest cancers in India. Use of smokeless tobacco (Pan masala, Zarda etc ) is on the increase in North India and specially in Uttar Pradesh. AIMS: To assess the patients characteristics and histopathological subtypes of the oral cancer in our region. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A single institutional retrospective study of 11 years from 1990 to 2000 was designed. Data was collected year wise using the tumour registry data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 40559 biopsies were examined in the department during 1990-2000, out of which the oral cavity constituted 759 biopsies The data was analysed with emphasis on age, sex, risk factors, site and histology. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data was analysed utilizing the Kolomogroo-Smirnov two sample test. RESULTS: A comparison of the age specific incidence rates of oral cancer during 1990-2000 in Allahabad showed that the incidence was maximum in the 50-59 years age group and squamous cell carcinoma grade I was the most prevalent type. Of the total of 759 biopsies from oral cavity, 303 malignant cases. 232 (76.57%) were males and 71 (23.43% were females with a male to female ratio of 3.27:1. The tongue was the most frequently involved site - found in 42.57% cases. On an average, 63 new cases of oral cavity per annum were detected during this period. Conclusions: Properly structured site specific data like this can augment National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) and is an essential indicator for the magnitude and the pattern of the cancer problem in India Urgent public health measures like public education and oral cancer awareness are required to curb this avoidable epidemic.