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squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth
see oral cancer
Etiology:
- tobacco, including chewing tobacco
- alcohol further increases risk
- human papilloma virus (HPV)
Epidemiology:
- most common type of oral cancer
Pathology:
- histopathology (see ref [1] for image)
- hyperchromic, pleomorphic cells with a keratin pearl in connective tissue, case report [1]
Clinical manifestations:
- non-healing papule, erosion or ulceration in the mouth
- non healing ulcer with white exudate [2]
- may appear as a white blob on the tongue [2]
- may be painful
- cervical lymphadenopathy
- may not be palpable [2]
* see ref [1] for image
Laboratory:
- tissue biopsy
Radiology:
- computed tomography*
- positron emission tomography*
* evaluate for metastases
Differential diagnosis:
- oral hairy leukoplakia
- caused by EBV generally in patients with HIV1 infection
- white, corrugated, hairy looking area on side of tongue
- oral lichen planus
- white, lacy pattern on dorsal tongue or as shallow red ulcers
- generally due to medications or chronic trauma
- Behcet disease
- generally manifests in patients in their 20s
- recurrent oral ulcers may last 3 weeks, not 2 months
- secondary syphilis:
- whitish, wart-like lesions (condyloma latum) on mucous membranes
- resolution in 3-6 weeks
Management:
- surgical resection
- segmental mandibulectomy*
- selective neck dissection*
* case report [1]
Related
lip cancer
Specific
squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue
General
oral cancer (oropharyngeal cancer)
squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
References
- Chaubal TV, Bapat RA
Squamous-Cell Carcinoma of the Mouth
N Engl J Med 2017; 377:1188. September 21, 2017
PMID: 28930502 Free full text
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm1701886
- NEJM Knowledge+ Gastroenterology
- Lambert R, Sauvaget C, de Camargo Cancela M, Sankaranarayanan R.
Epidemiology of cancer from the oral cavity and oropharynx.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011 Aug;23(8):633-41.
PMID: 21654320 Review.
- Ramqvist T, Dalianis T.
An epidemic of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) due to
human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and aspects of treatment and prevention.
Anticancer Res. 2011 May;31(5):1515-9.
PMID: 21617204 Review.