ear, nose, and throat disorders
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Symptoms and Signs of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Oral lesions are asymptomatic initially, highlighting the need for oral screening. Most dental professionals carefully examine the oral cavity and oropharynx during routine care and may do a brush biopsy of abnormal areas. The lesions may appear as areas of erythroplakia or leukoplakia and may be exophytic or ulcerated. Cancers are often indurated and firm with a rolled border. As the lesions increase in size, pain, dysarthria, and dysphagia may result. This photo shows a close-up of the inside of the mouth (the buccal mucosa) in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa. CLINICA CLAROS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Erythroplakia is a general term that can describe red, flat, or eroded velvety lesions that develop in the mouth. In this image, an exophytic squamous cell carcinoma on the tongue is surrounded by a margin of erythroplakia. Image provided by Jonathan A. Ship, DMD. Leukoplakia is a general term that can describe white hyperkeratotic plaques that develop in the mouth. The majority prove to be benign. However, in this image, squamous cell carcinoma is present in one of the leukoplakic lesions on the ventral surface of the tongue (arrow). Image provided by Jonathan A. Ship, DMD. 