What are some common tests for suspected tongue cancer?

What are the common examination methods for suspected tongue cancer? Bad eating habits and smoking in daily life are one of the main factors leading to tongue cancer. Therefore, there are still many patients with tongue cancer. So what are the common examination methods for suspected tongue cancer?

Pathological biopsy, cervical lymph node examination, and imaging examination are the three most common examination methods for tongue cancer. The purpose of these three examination methods is to:

1. Pathological biopsy: It is an important means of diagnosing tongue cancer. By scraping, biting or cutting the suspected lesions on the tongue for biopsy, tongue cancer can be diagnosed as early as possible to avoid delays in the disease. In order to increase the positive rate of biopsy, it is advisable to clamp the edge of the tumor including some healthy tissue.

2. Cervical lymph node examination: Clinically, about 40% of tongue cancer patients have lymph node metastasis when diagnosed, mostly in the ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes. Therefore, cervical lymph node examination is also one of the common examination methods for tongue cancer. This examination can understand whether tongue cancer has metastasized to the cervical lymph nodes, and a biopsy should be performed if necessary.

3. Imaging examination: Tongue cancer is a malignant tumor with a high degree of malignancy, rapid growth and strong invasiveness, so patients with tongue cancer should undergo imaging examinations. Imaging examinations include CT, MRI plain scan and enhanced examination, PET-CT scan and ultrasound examination, which can provide certain information on the location, invasion range and lymph node metastasis of tongue cancer, and also help determine the clinical treatment plan for tongue cancer.

Through the above introduction, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of the three common examination methods for tongue cancer. Tongue cancer is generally highly malignant, grows fast, and is highly invasive. After the onset of the disease, it will affect the tongue muscles, resulting in limited tongue movement, making it difficult to speak, eat, and swallow, which has a serious impact on the patient's physical and mental health. In severe cases, it may even endanger the patient's life. Therefore, tongue cancer needs to be actively treated after diagnosis.