Oral Maxillofacial CANCERS/TUMOURS

Clinical Description

Cancer in the maxillofacial region is one of the 10 most common cancers that occurs in the human body. It manifests itself in the form of tumours that generally appear on the face, the neck and in the mouth

Signs and Symptoms

• Abnormal bleeding in any area of the mouth or difficulty in swallowing, chewing or speaking.
• Pain, tingling or dryness of the mouth without any apparent cause.
• Sores that do not heal properly.
• Persistent infections in the mouth.
• White, red or black marks in the mouth.
• Presence of hardness, a lump or swelling in the mouth or on the face and/or neck.
• Ulcers in any part of the mouth that do not heal within 15 days.

Investigations

• FBC
• CT Scan, MRI
• Skull views (PA, TL, LO, OPG, OM)
• Histology studies

Non-pharmacological

• Depends on the type of cancer and rate of growth
• Biopsy is a must (FNA, incision and excision)
• Prompt referral for rapidly growing tumours (NHL, Burkitt’s Lymphoma)
• Palliative therapy
• Surgical intervention
• Reinforce oral hygiene practices

Pharmacological

• Antibiotics where there is evidence of infection
• Refer to oncology for chemotherapy/ radiation therapy

Note: Early referral from health Centre and district hospital is important