Ask about tongue cancer diagnostic tools

Relevant oral experts said that tongue cancer is one of the common oral diseases. Epidemiology shows that tongue cancer has been gradually increasing in recent years. The incidence of tongue cancer is higher in men than in women. Oral experts said that most tongue cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, and the onset is mostly located at the root of the tongue. Tongue cancer should be detected and treated early. So, what are the diagnostic tools for tongue cancer?

Tongue cancer is the most common oral cancer, and it is more common in men than in women. Most tongue cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, especially in the front 2/3 of the tongue. Adenocarcinomas are less common and are mostly located at the root of the tongue. Lymphoepithelial carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma may also occur at the root of the tongue. Tongue cancer mostly occurs at the edge of the tongue, followed by the tip, back and root of the tongue, and is often ulcerative or infiltrative. It is generally highly malignant, grows fast, and is highly invasive. It often affects the tongue muscles, resulting in limited tongue movement, making it difficult to speak, eat and swallow. Tongue cancer can invade the palatoglossal arch and tonsils posteriorly. In the late stage, tongue cancer can spread to the floor of the mouth and the jawbone, fixing the entire tongue.

Relevant experts said that the diagnosis of tongue cancer is generally easy, but we should be vigilant for early tongue cancer, especially the invasive type. Palpation is more important than visual examination for the diagnosis of tongue cancer. Biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. According to data from my country, the 3-5 year survival rate of surgical treatment is generally above 60%; for T1 cases, it can reach above 90%.

Secondary infection or cancer at the root of the tongue often causes severe pain that radiates to the ipsilateral head and face. Because the tongue is rich in lymphatic vessels and blood circulation, and the tongue has frequent mechanical movements, tongue cancer metastasizes earlier and has a higher chance of metastasis. Tongue cancer on the back of the tongue or across the midline of the tongue can metastasize to the contralateral cervical lymph nodes; cancer in the front of the tongue often metastasizes to the submandibular and upper and middle groups of deep cervical lymph nodes; cancer at the tip of the tongue can metastasize to the submental or directly to the middle group of deep cervical lymph nodes, and cancer at the root of the tongue may not only metastasize to the submandibular or deep cervical lymph nodes, but may also metastasize to the lymph nodes behind the styloid process and the posterior pharynx. Tongue cancer can also metastasize to distant sites, usually to the lungs.