ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL TUMOURS

A Cancerous wound on the tongue

Any cysts, tumors or other growths in the mouth, either in the soft tissues or in the jaws, must be examined by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The surgeon will do a biopsy that can determine what kind of cyst or tumor you have.

While most such growths are not painful and very often not medically dangerous i.e benign, they can interfere with normal bone or tissue structure, and can even change the alignment of the teeth. Also, even though a biopsy indicates they are not cancerous, benign cysts or tumors can occasionally become cancerous if they are left to continue to grow.

Cancerous growths may involve the bone or soft tissues and could present as a non-healing wound in the mouth, which typically would be painful and fast growing. Such tumors require urgent management which would include a biopsy, radiographic examinations and definitive treatment which may be surgery alone, surgery and radiation (plus or minus chemotherapy) or in some cases radiation alone or combined with chemotherapy.

Although the causes of cancer are not clearly understood the use tobacco in all its forms, betel nut and excessive alcohol have been identified as risk factors for oral cancer.