What Causes Tongue Cancer?

Tongue cancer is a common malignant tumor in the oral and maxillofacial region. There are more men than women and most are squamous cell carcinoma. Especially in the front 2/3 of the tongue, adenocarcinoma is rare and mostly located at the base of the tongue. Sometimes the root of the tongue can also occur Lymphatic epithelial cancer and undifferentiated cancer.

Basic Information

English name: tongue cancer
Visiting department: Department of Stomatology, Oncology
Multiple groups: male

Common locations: tongue
Common causes: Unknown, most believe it is related to environmental factors
Common symptoms: More common on the edge of the tongue, often ulcerative or infiltrating
Contagious: no

Causes of Tongue Cancer

The cause has not been fully understood so far, and most of them believe that its occurrence is related to environmental factors, such as heat, chronic injuries, ultraviolet rays, X-rays and other radioactive substances can be carcinogenic factors. For example, tongue and buccal mucosal cancer can occur in residual roots and sharp teeth Long, often irritated areas such as sharp points and poor restorations. In addition, neuropsychological factors, endocrine factors, the body's immune status and genetic factors have been found to be related to the occurrence of tongue cancer.

Clinical manifestations of tongue cancer

1. Tumors mostly occur at the edge of the tongue, followed by the tip of the tongue, the back of the tongue, and the abdomen of the tongue. There may be a history of local white spot disease or chronic stimuli.

2. Often ulcerous or infiltrating, with fast growth, obvious pain, and strong infiltration.

3. May have restricted tongue movement, difficulty eating and swallowing.

4. Early cervical lymph node metastasis often occurs.

Differential diagnosis of tongue cancer

Traumatic ulcer

It is more common in the elderly, and it usually occurs behind the lingual edge, and often has irritants at the corresponding site. The ulcer is deep, with a gray-white pseudomembrane on the surface, and the substrate is not hard. Removal of irritants can heal by themselves.

2. Tuberculous ulcer

Occurred mostly on the back of the tongue, occasionally on the tip and edge of the tongue. The ulcer was superficial, purplish red, and the edges were irregular, showing a large bit of latent lesions with a small bite of the rat mouth and no infiltration of the base. Patients often have a history of tuberculosis.

Tongue Cancer Treatment

Surgery-based comprehensive treatment should generally be performed with primary disease resection and cervical lymph node dissection, with radiotherapy or chemotherapy before or after surgery.