What is a Tongue Tumor?

Sublingual gland tumors are rare, about 1% of salivary gland tumors. The sublingual glands are located on both sides of the tongue band, and are flat under the mucous membrane at the bottom of the mouth. Sublingual gland tumors are mostly malignant, accounting for 90% of malignant tumors, such as floor squamous cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The main treatment is surgical resection.

Basic Information

Visiting department

Surgical Oncology

Common locations

mouth

Common causes

The cause is not clear

Common symptoms

Chronic stimulating factors can be found near the tumor, such as: bad restorations, residual roots, residual crowns, sharp crown edges, etc.

The cause is unknown.

Tumors of the sublingual gland occur at the edge of the tongue, followed by the tip of the tongue, the back of the tongue, and the base of the tongue. Chronic stimulating factors can be found near the tumor, such as: bad restorations, residual roots, residual crowns, sharp crown edges, etc. Due to the location, it is not easy for the patient to detect. In some cases, there were no conscious symptoms, and the doctor was only found during a routine examination; or the patient's attention was only due to a sublingual mass that prevented the denture from being worn. However, in some cases, the patient was conscious of tongue pain or numbness on one side, or restricted tongue movement, which affected speech and swallowing. On palpation, a hard mass of the sublingual gland can be found, sometimes adhering to the lingual periosteal layer of the mandible and not moving, and the mucous membrane at the bottom of the mouth is often intact.
Early cervical palpable lymph nodes.

Routine physical examination in the stomatology department, and relevant auxiliary examinations, such as ultrasound examination, CT, MRI, etc., or fine needle biopsy after inflammation control, if necessary, combined with high-frequency ultrasound and biopsy to improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

Sublingual masses should be routinely palpated with both hands. If there are indurations other than stones in the submandibular gland duct, tumors should be considered. And because the vast majority of sublingual gland tumors are malignant tumors, they should be given great attention. The diagnosis depends on histopathological examination.

If a sublingual tumor is diagnosed, it should be treated as soon as possible. The main treatment is surgical resection. The principle is to completely remove the tumor, which must be removed outside the capsule. When conditions permit, a small amount of normal tissue outside the capsule should be removed at the same time. Do postoperative pathological examination to confirm the diagnosis and prevent misdiagnosis.

Patients with sublingual malignant tumors have higher short-term survival rates after treatment, but long-term survival rates have continued to decline, with 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year survival rates decreasing significantly. Prognostic observation should last more than 10 years.