The pathology of oral cancer

Key Points Provides an overview of the pathology of oral cancer. Increases awareness that oral cancer is not a simple, single disease. Provides understanding of the main differences between oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer and why the distinction in important. Increases awareness of how the path...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British dental journal 2018-11, Vol.225 (9), p.841-847
Main Authors: Speight, P. M., Farthing, P. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
clinical
Dentistry
Health risk assessment
Human papillomavirus
Medical prognosis
Oral cancer
Oral carcinoma
Oral cavity
Oropharyngeal cancer
Oropharyngolaryngeal carcinoma
Oropharynx
Pathology
Throat cancer
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Summary:Key Points Provides an overview of the pathology of oral cancer. Increases awareness that oral cancer is not a simple, single disease. Provides understanding of the main differences between oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer and why the distinction in important. Increases awareness of how the pathology of oral cancer underpins the clinical presentation. The term 'oral cancer' describes a range of malignancies that may arise in and around the oral cavity. Over 90% of such lesions are squamous cell carcinomas, but even these may be divided into different entities based on site, aetiology and prognosis. In particular, squamous carcinomas in the oral cavity (oral cancer) should be regarded as a different disease to carcinomas arising in the oropharynx. Oropharyngeal cancer is associated with infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) and shows different clinical and histological features. This short review summarises the pathology of oral and oropharyngeal cancer, and describes some of the main prognostic factors that pathologists use to assist clinicians in planning appropriate management.
ISSN:0007-0610
1476-5373
DOI:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.926