Oral Cancer Classifications, Risk Factors & Treatment

 

Oral Cancer Classifications, Risk Factors & Treatment

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral Cancer is known to be a lesion that is located within the oral cavity. According to CDHO, oral cancers can be found anywhere on the lips, cheeks, gums, teeth, floor of mouth, tongue, oropharynx, tonsils, and salivary glands. Common sites where oral cancer can be found are the lower lip, lateral border of tongue (CDHO, n.d.).  

                                              

Factors That Contribute to Oral Cancer:

It is known that using tobacco and alcohol increases the chances of having oral cancer. However, according to CDHO, it has been said that twenty five percent of oral cancer cases have no major risk factors such as using any of the following:

 

- tobacco of any form

- excessive amount of alcohol consumption

- heavy sun exposure on the head and neck areas, especially the face and lips

- exposure to HPV Human papilloma virus

- genetic susceptibility

 

(Wilkins et al, 2021).

 

Classification of Tumours or Neoplasia:

Oral Cancer is known to be either benign or malignant.

 

Benign cancer is defined by having a tumour or neoplasia that is encapsulated with fibrous connective tissue making it stay in the location where it grew. Although it can’t spread to other organ sites, it can however, metastasized onto the tissue next to the cancer. Example of benign cancers are papillomas located in the squamous cell, basal cell carcinoma located in basal cells, adenoma in the gland or ducts as stated in (Figure 1) and so on.

 

Malignant cancer is the opposite of benign as it can spread throughout the body. An example of malignant tumours is squamous cell or epidermoid carcinoma located in the squamous cells, adenocarcinoma located in the glands or ducts., as stated in (Figure 1) and so on.

(Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. Azzi, 2021).

 

What are the most common types of oral cancer?

Three most common types of oral cancer are Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma.

 

Squamous Cell and Basal Cell Carcinomas are in the epithelial tissues in the oral cavity. Squamous is known to be the number one common type of oral cancer, second being basal cell and third being melanoma. However, Melanoma’s are in the neuroectoderm tissues in the oral cavity, as stated in (Figure 1).

(Ibsen & Phelan, 2014).

 

Treatment of Tumours:

Benign tumours are known to be removed surgically, by taking out the tumour. However, more aggressive tumours such as a malignant cancer can be treated surgically, radiation and chemotherapy to reduce the tumour. Depending on the size of tumour, sometimes providing a variety of these treatments is used (Ibsen & Phelan, 2014).

 

Figure 1

Names of Tumours


From Oral Pathology for the Dental Hygienist, by Ibsen & Phelan, 2014

 

References:

 

CHDO (2014, August 7). CDHO Factsheet: Oral Cancer. https://www.cdho.org/Advisories/CDHO_Factsheet_Oral_Cancer.pdf

Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. Azzi (2021, August 11). Week 14: Neoplasia [slides 13-17]. Brightspace Algonquin College. https://brightspace.algonquincollege.com/d2l/le/content/350248/viewContent/5397294/View

Ibsen & Phelan. Oral pathology for the dental hygienist. 2014. 6th ed. Elsevier.

Wilkins, E.M., Wyche, C. J., & Boyd, L. D (2021). Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist (13th ed.). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins






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