Treatment options range from chemotherapy to surgery. In this article, you’ll learn about the different types of treatment options, as well as the potential side effects of each one. You’ll also learn about the various types of surgery available, and what you can expect during your procedure. If you have any questions, please contact your doctor.
A lump on the tongue, often with an undefined edge, is a common symptom of tongue cancer. These lumps can become so painful that eating and swallowing may become difficult. Although the causes of tongue cancer are not yet fully understood, several factors have been implicated. Ultraviolet radiation, X-ray exposure, and radioactive substances are all known to be possible pathogens. Other factors that may contribute to the development of tongue cancer include genetics and endocrine conditions.
Patients with early stage tongue squamous cell carcinoma were eligible for the study. The patients’ cancer was located on the forward part of the tongue, or had spread to cervical lymph nodes. They also had lymph node metastasis, which meant they had undergone cervical lymph node dissection. In the end, patients with positive surgical margins and short-term survival were excluded from the study. These are just a few of the options available to treat tongue cancer.
Nodal metastases were found in more than half of the 343 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma between 1987 and 2012. This study also included the use of tumour thickness as a predictor of nodal metastases. Among patients with similar tumour thickness, the presence of nodal metastases in the neck was considered positive, with 11.2% of tumours involving the neck. Its importance in early stage tongue cancer is unclear, but this data can help you decide if a diagnosis should be made.
Tongue cancer is often difficult to detect in its early stages because there are few visual or painful symptoms. A lump in the mouth that touches your teeth may be the first symptom of the disease. This lump is grayish pink or red, and bleeds easily when bitten or touched. Early stage tongue cancer symptoms are difficult to distinguish from other symptoms such as a sore throat, earaches, and bad breath. The symptoms vary from person to person, so early detection is essential.
There are two main stages of mouth and tongue cancer. Stage II is T2N0M0, while stage III is T1N1M0. The disease may involve multiple lymph nodes. Stage IVA is defined by any size of tumor and lymph nodes within six centimeters of the mouth. However, the risk of nodal metastases is high in thin tongue and FOM tumours. For this reason, patients with early stage tongue cancer should undergo elective neck dissection.
Noncontrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging is the best technique for evaluating the thickness of the tumor in tongue cancer. Coronal non-contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging may also be helpful in the evaluation of floor-of-the-mouth cancer. Similarly, ultrasound can be useful in assessing the size of the tumor and its extent. In the future, these methods should be used to further evaluate the cancer.
