Oral cancer

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Throat anatomy

Mouth anatomy

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Oral cancer

Alternative Names:

Cancer - mouth; Mouth cancer; Head and neck cancer; Squamous cell cancer - mouth

Symptoms:

Skin lesion, lump, or ulcer:

On the tongue, lip, or other mouth area
Usually small
Most often pale colored, may be dark or discolored
May be a deep, hard edged crack in the tissue
Usually painless initially
May develop a burning sensation or pain when the tumor is advanced

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Signs and tests:

An examination of the mouth by the health care provider or dentist shows a visible or palpable (can be felt) lesion of the lip, tongue, or other mouth area. As the tumor enlarges, it may become an ulcer and bleed. Speech difficulties, chewing problems, or swallowing difficulties may develop, particularly if the cancer is on the tongue.

A tongue biopsy, gum biopsy, and microscopic examination of the lesion confirm the diagnosis of oral cancer.

Review Date: 5/3/2006
Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.