Oral cancer is a malignant growth that develops in the mouth or nearby structures. About 90% of cases are Oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Common sites
Tongue (especially the lateral border)
Floor of the mouth
Buccal mucosa (inside of the cheeks)
Lips
Gingiva (gums)
Hard and soft palate
Retromolar trigone
Risk factors
Tobacco smoking and smokeless tobacco
Excessive alcohol consumption
Combined tobacco and alcohol use (highest risk)
Human papillomavirus infection (especially HPV-16)
Betel nut/areca nut chewing
Chronic sun exposure (lip cancer)
Poor oral hygiene and chronic irritation (minor contributing factors)
Clinical features
Non-healing ulcer lasting more than 2 weeks
Red (erythroplakia) or white (leukoplakia) patches
Pain or burning sensation
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Loose teeth without obvious cause
Bleeding from the lesion
Difficulty opening the mouth
Enlarged neck lymph nodes
Diagnosis
Thorough oral examination
Biopsy (gold standard)
Imaging: CT, MRI, or PET-CT for staging
TNM staging
Treatment
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy or immunotherapy in selected advanced cases
