What are the types of oral cancer?
About 90% of all tumors in the oral cavity are squamous cell carcinomas. Squamous cells form the lining of the oral cavity which is also known as the mucosa. Other less common oral cancer types include salivary gland tumors including adenoid cystic carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and other cancers of the salivary glands.
What is Squamous cell carcinoma?
Around 90% of oral cavity cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Typically, on a microscopic level, the throat and mouth are lined with so-called squamous cells which are flat and look like fish scales. When certain squamous cells mutate and become abnormal, squamous cell carcinoma develops.
What is Verrucous carcinoma?
Approximately 5% of all tumors in the oral cavity are verrucous carcinoma. These are the form of very slow-growing cancer made of squamous cells. This type of oral cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body but can invade nearby tissues.
What are Minor salivary gland carcinomas?
This disease includes many forms of oral cancer that can occur in the lining of the mouth, throat and on the minor salivary glands. These include adenoid cystic carcinoma, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
What is Lymphoma?
Lymphomas are the type of oral cancers that develop in lymph tissue. These can occur in the tonsils and base of the tongue as both of these contain lymphoid tissue.
What are Benign oral cavity tumors?
In the oral cavity and oropharynx various types of non-cancerous tumors and tumor-like conditions may develop. Such conditions can sometimes develop into cancer. Benign tumors are often removed surgically for this reason. The types of benign lesions include:
- Eosinophilic granuloma
- Granular cell tumor
- Fibroma
- Karatoacanthoma
- Osteochondroma
- Leiomyoma
- Pyogenic granuloma
- Lipoma
- Schwannoma
- Papilloma
- Neurofibroma
- Odontogenic tumors (lesions that begin in tooth-forming tissues)
- Rhabdomyoma
- Condyloma acuminatum
- Verruciform xanthoma
What is Leukoplakia vs. Erythroplakia?
Such non-cancerous conditions arise in the mouth or throat as certain forms of abnormal cells grow. A white area is visible when leukoplakia develops, while erythroplakia is marked with a red area that may be flat or slightly elevated, and often bleeds when scraped. Both conditions may be precancerous, meaning that they can develop into different cancer types. When these conditions arise, an oral cancer biopsy or other examinations are performed to assess if the cells are cancerous. Approximately 25% of leukoplakia is either cancerous when first detected, or precancerous.
What is lip cancer?
The most prevalent type of oral cancer is the lip cancer mostly affecting men. It is divided into two types squamous cell (most common type) and basal cell.
What is mouth cancer?
Mouth cancer is a type of oral cancer that occurs in every part of the mouth including the lips, gums and tongue. Mouth cancer treatment depend on the location of the tumor.
What is tongue cancer?
Oral cancer tongue is a type of oral cancer which develops in the squamous cells and forms in the front two-thirds of the tongue. Cancer that forms in the back one-third of the tongue is considered to be a type of head and neck cancer.
What is gum vs. jaw cancer?
Gum and jaw cancer may occur in the upper and lower gums and may invade the underlying jaw as it progresses. Gum cancer is linked to the use of smoking, chewing tobacco and heavy use of alcohol. These cancer patients may experience bleeding, thickening, cracking, or sores in their gums. Gum and jaw cancer may need a partial or full segment of either the upper or lower jawbone to be removed. In more advanced cases, a patient may need facial reconstruction where removal of the complete jawbone segment is needed.
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