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ORAL
PATHOLOGY
The
inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of
skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any
alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a
pathological process. The most serious of these is oral
cancer. The following can be signs at the beginning of a
pathologic process or cancerous growth:
-
Reddish
patches (erythroplakia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in
the mouth
-
A sore
that fails to heal and bleeds easily
-
A lump
or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
-
Chronic
sore throat or hoarseness
-
Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
These
changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum
tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, and/or neck. Pain does
not always occur with pathology and, curiously, is not often
associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial
and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also
be at risk for oral cancer.
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