Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Oral Cancer
Number of Conditions: 3
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Oral Cavity)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Cancer and Precancerous Conditions
Sub-category: Oral Cancer
Symptoms:
persistent oral sore; white or red patches in the mouth; difficulty swallowing; lump in the neck; ear pain
Root Cause:
Malignant proliferation of squamous cells in the mucosal lining of the mouth or throat.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Biopsy of the lesion, imaging (CT or MRI), and endoscopy.
Treatment:
Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (or combinations).
Medications:
Cisplatin (chemotherapy), targeted therapies like cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor), and immunotherapies like pembrolizumab (PD-1 inhibitor).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Accounts for 90% of all oral cancers; more common in men over 50.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, HPV infection, and poor oral hygiene.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies with stage; early detection leads to a high survival rate.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Local invasion, metastasis, and difficulty speaking or eating.
Verrucous Carcinoma (a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Cancer and Precancerous Conditions
Sub-category: Oral Cancer
Symptoms:
slow-growing, thick, wart-like oral lesion; white or pink patches; painless in early stages; may ulcerate or bleed over time
Root Cause:
A well-differentiated, low-grade malignant tumor originating from the squamous epithelium, often associated with chronic irritation or tobacco use.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Biopsy of the lesion with histopathological analysis to differentiate from invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
Treatment:
Surgical excision (primary treatment), occasionally followed by radiation therapy; chemotherapy is less effective.
Medications:
None specifically indicated; supportive care for symptoms after surgery.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, accounting for 1-10% of all oral squamous cell carcinomas.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Tobacco use (smoking and chewing), chronic irritation (e.g., poorly fitting dentures), and HPV infection.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with complete surgical removal; recurrence is possible if not adequately treated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Local invasion, recurrence, and progression to more aggressive cancer types.
Lymphoma (affecting oral tissues)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Oral Cancer and Precancerous Conditions
Sub-category: Oral Cancer
Symptoms:
painless swelling in the oral cavity; ulceration or mass in the gums, palate, or tonsils; difficulty swallowing; weight loss; night sweats
Root Cause:
Malignancy of lymphatic cells; may be non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or, less commonly, Hodgkin lymphoma.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Biopsy of the lesion, immunohistochemical analysis, and imaging (CT, PET scan) for staging.
Treatment:
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapy depending on the type and stage.
Medications:
Rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody for NHL). CHOP regimen (cyclophosphamide , doxorubicin , vincristine , prednisone ). Brentuximab vedotin (for specific subtypes of lymphoma).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Accounts for less than 5% of all oral cancers; more common in individuals with immunosuppression.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
HIV/AIDS, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, immunosuppressive therapy, and autoimmune diseases.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable depending on subtype and stage; low-grade lymphomas may have prolonged survival with treatment.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Spread to lymph nodes or distant organs, systemic symptoms, and treatment-related toxicity.