Oral Tongue Cancer Research Paper

Several types of cancer grow in the tongue but squamous cell carcinoma is the most common. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that line the mouth and other organs.

There are two types of tongue cancer:

Cancer of the oral tongue. The front two-thirds of the tongue that you can "stick out" is called the oral tongue.

Cancer of the base of tongue. The base is the back one-third of the tongue that extends down the throat.

Symptoms

Oral Tongue Cancer

A lump on the side of the tongue that touches the teeth (lateral side)

The lump often looks like an ulcer and is grayish-pink to red in color

The lump bleeds easily if bitten or touched

Base of Tongue Cancer

The tumor is often difficult to see in the early stages so it is usually diagnosed when

A thin needle is inserted into the tumor mass and a sample is aspirated (drawn out by suction) into a syringe.

Incisional biopsy. A sample is removed with a scalpel (surgical knife)

Punch biopsy. A small circular blade removes a round area of tissue

Treatments

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to treat tongue cancer.

Surgery

Oral Tongue

Surgical removal of the primary tumor might be the only treatment needed for small oral tongue cancers. If the tumor is large, it may have spread to lymph nodes in the neck. When this occurs the surgeon may recommend removal of the affected lymph nodes in the neck (called a neck dissection).

Most small cancers of the oral tongue leave little cosmetic or functional changes after they are removed.

Larger tumors can spread and cause swallowing difficulties. Surgery for large tumors also affects speech and swallowing. With the latest reconstuctive techniques, our doctors are able to restore most speech and swallowing problems.

Base of the Tongue

Tumors on the base of the tongue are usually larger when diagnosed because in the early stages the tumor is difficult to see. The only early symptom is ear pain. Voice changes and difficult swallowing occur