Oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma 

Updated: 02/12/2021

© Jun Wang, MD, PhD

General features
  • Majority of oral cavity cancers
  • Usually ages 50-70 years
  • Predominantly men
  • Likely second primary tumors due to chronic exposure to carcinogens prior (field cancerization)
  • Most tonsil area cases are HPV associated
  • HPV associated cancer tends to have better prognosis
Risk factors
  • Major: Alcohol, tobacco, chewing tobacco, marijuana, betel nuts and pan (India)
  • Other: HPV, EBV, etc
  • Sunlight exposure for lip cancer
  • Fruit and vegetable consumption significantly reduces risk
Clinical presentations
  • Leukoplakia: smooth or warty white patch/plaque, cannot be scraped off
  • Erythroplakia: Red area, more likely have squamous dysplasia
  • Mass
  • Ulcer
Key morphological features
Treatment
  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • May consider photodynamic and chemotherapy



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