Oral cancer classification

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [2]

Overview

Oral cancer can be classified into several subtypes based on histology such as squamous cell carcinoma, verrucous carcinoma, minor salivary gland carcinoma, lymphomas, benign oral cancer and oropharyngeal tumors, leukoplakia, and erythroplakia.

Classification

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tumours make up 95% of all oral cavity cancers. They are classified based on macroscopic or microscopic features.

Macroscopic features can be seen without a microscope. Cancers are described as: Infiltrative – Cancer is growing into the deeper layers of the oral cavity. Exophytic – Cancer is growing outwards from the surface of the oral cavity. Verrucous – Cancer has a wart-like appearance. Ulcerated – Cancer appears as an open sore. Flat – Cancer appears as an abnormal area in the lining of the oral cavity. Microscopic features can be seen only with a microscope. Based on their microscopic features, squamous cell carcinomas are divided into 2 types: Classical or conventional SCC Most cancers of the oral cavity are classical or conventional squamous cell carcinoma. This type of SCC starts in the squamous epithelium that lines the oral cavity and occurs most often on the lower lip, tongue and floor of the mouth.

variants of SCC

Verrucous carcinoma basaloid SCC papillary SCC spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) acantholytic SCC adenosquamous carcinoma lymphoepithelial carcinoma Rare Malignant Tumors About 5% of oral cavity cancers are rare malignant tumours that start in different types of cells in the oral cavity.

melanoma bone and soft tissue sarcomas lymphomas and extramedullary plasmacytomas Oral cancers that develop in lymph tissue, are known as lymphomas. Hodgkin lymphoma Non-Hodgkin lymphoma metastatic cancer Benign oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors Leukoplakia and erythroplakia Several types of non-cancerous tumors and tumor-like conditions can arise in the oral cavity and oropharynx. A premalignant (or precancerous) lesion is defined as "a benign, morphologically altered tissue that has a greater than normal risk of malignant transformation." There are several different types of premalignant lesion that occur in the mouth. Some oral cancers begin as white patches (leukoplakia), red patches (erythroplakia) or mixed red and white patches (erythroleukoplakia or "speckled leukoplakia"). The most common precancerous conditions of the oral cavity are:

leukoplakia erythroplakia erythroleukoplakia proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) oral submucous fibrosis

References

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