Fig. 3

Demographic and socioeconomic risk factors considered to select CTC-based HNSCC patients. A HNSCC patients were categorized into two groups: CTC-positive (CTCs detected in blood) and CTC-negative patients (CTCs not detected in blood). B The mean age difference of CTC-positive and CTC-negative HNSCC patients. Data is represented here as mean ± SD. P < 0.05, a two-tailed unpaired t-test was carried out to compare the ages of CTC-positive and negative patients. C CTC count per 1.5 ml of blood in CTC-positive HNSCC patients. D, E Anatomical site distribution of CTC-positive and negative HNSCC patients. The number of HNSCC patients is presented as a percentage. F, G Distribution of CTC-positive and negative HNSCC patients based on age groups. The study subjects were grouped into different age groups with 10-year intervals. H Comparison of CTC-positive patients to CTC-negative patients based on the duration of smoking. Mann–Whitney unpaired two-tailed t-test was performed here as mean ± SD. P < 0.05 (I) Duration of Betel leaf use in CTC-positive and CTC-negative groups. Mann -Whitney unpaired two-tailed t-test was performed here as mean ± SD. P < 0.05. ****p-value < 0.0001