Oral cancer is any
cancerous tissue growth located in the
mouth. It may arise as a primary lesion originating in any of the oral tissues, by
metastasis from a distant site of origin, or by extension from a neighboring anatomic structure, such as the
nasal cavity or the
maxillary sinus. Oral cancers may originate in any of the tissues of the mouth, and may be of varied
histologic types:
teratoma,
adenocarcinoma derived from a major or minor
salivary gland,
lymphoma from
tonsillar or other
lymphoid tissue, or melanoma from the pigment producing cells of the oral mucosa. Far and away the most common oral cancer is
squamous cell carcinoma, originating in the tissues that line the mouth and
lips. Oral or mouth cancer most commonly involves the tissue of the
lips or the
tongue. It may also occur on the floor of the mouth, cheek lining,
gingiva (gums), or palate (roof of the mouth). Most oral cancers look very similar under the microscope and are called
squamous cell carcinoma. These are
malignant and tend to spread rapidly.
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Cancer within the mouth. Please see MedicineNet site on RAL CANCER for more information.