Importance of tongue cancer diagnosis

Tongue cancer is a common malignant tumor in the oral and maxillofacial region. It is more common in men than in women. Most cases are squamous cell carcinomas, especially in the anterior part of the tongue, mostly at the root of the tongue. Lymphoepithelial carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma may also occur at the root of the tongue. Today, I will give you a detailed introduction to the importance of tongue cancer diagnosis. Let's take a look at the following content.

Clinical manifestations

1. Tumors mostly occur on the edge of the tongue, followed by the tip, back and belly of the tongue. There may be a history of local leukoplakia or chronic irritation factors.

2. It is often ulcerative or infiltrative, grows fast, causes obvious pain, and is highly infiltrative.

3. There may be limited tongue movement, difficulty eating and swallowing.

4. Cervical lymph node metastasis often occurs in the early stage.

Differential Diagnosis

1. Traumatic ulcer

It is more common in the elderly, and is prone to occur behind the lateral edge of the tongue. There is often an irritant in the corresponding area. The ulcer is deep, with a gray-white pseudomembrane on the surface and a soft base. It can heal on its own after the irritant is removed.

2. Tuberculous ulcer

Most cases occur on the back of the tongue, and occasionally on the tip and edge of the tongue. The ulcer is superficial, purple-red, with irregular edges, and appears as a rat-bite-like insidious lesion with a small mouth and a large bottom, with no infiltration at the base. Patients often have a history of tuberculosis.

Treatment is a comprehensive treatment with surgery as the main approach, which generally includes resection of the primary disease and neck lymph node dissection, combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy before or after surgery.

prevention

Reduce external stimuli, actively treat precancerous lesions, and improve the body's disease resistance.