Oral Cancer Exam

Detecting Oral Cancer

A Guide for Health Care Professionals

New Cases30,000

Deaths8,000

Oral & Pharyngeal Cancer

5 Year Survival Rate = 50%

Early Detection

Saves Lives

Leukoplakia

Erythroplakia

Lump or thickening of

oral soft tissue

Soreness or “lump” in

throat

Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Ear painDifficulty

moving jaw or tongue

Hoarseness

Numbness of tongue or

mouth

Swelling of the jaw

Warning Signs

Risk Factors

Overview•Head & neck exam should be routine•Review history of alcohol and tobacco use•Follow-up on suspicious signs

Armamentarium

•Proper lighting•Dental mouth mirror•Gauze squares•Disposable gloves•5 minutes of time

Examination Preparation

Extraoral Examination

Examine

Face, head and neck – note asymmetry or changes

Lymph nodes – palpated bilaterally

Perioral & Intraoral Soft Tissue Exam

Lips

Labial Mucosa

Perioral & Intraoral Soft Tissue Exam

Labial Mucosa

Buccal Mucosa

Perioral & Intraoral Soft Tissue Exam

Buccal Mucosa

Gingiva

Perioral & Intraoral Soft Tissue Exam

Dorsum of Tongue

Left Margin of Tongue

Perioral & Intraoral Soft Tissue Exam

Right Margin of Tongue

Ventral Surface of Tongue

Perioral & Intraoral Soft Tissue Exam

Floor of Mouth

Hard Palate

Perioral & Intraoral Soft Tissue Exam

Oropharynx

Floor of Mouth - Bimanual

Suspicious Oral Lesions

Homogenous Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia with Early Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Suspicious Oral Lesions

Nodular Leukoplakia with Severe Epithelial Dysplasia

Erythroleukoplakia with Candida Infection

Points To Remember When Screening for Oral Cancer

Most oral cancers are located on the lateral borders of the tongue, floor of the mouth and lips – special attention should be focused in these areas.

Tell your patient what you are doing with each procedure and why.

Always note any changes in color and texture of all soft tissues or any swelling. If you detect an abnormality, determine the history of the lesion; if the abnormality has been of more than 2 weeks’ duration, take appropriate action to obtain a biopsy.

Points To Remember When Screening for Oral Cancer

Follow up to ensure a definitive diagnosis of an abnormality.

Teach your patients about the signs and symptoms of oral cancer.

If a patient uses tobacco products, provide appropriate counseling or refer patient for counseling.

Remove all removable prostheses before starting the examination.

Photographs for this program were provided by:

Joseph Konzelman, DDS

Jens Jorgen Pindborg, DrOdont

Slide series revised by Visual Dynamicswww.visualdynamics.us

For more information: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse1 NOHIC WayBethesda MD 20892-3500nohic@nidcr.nih.govwww.nidcr.nih.gov