From Volume 47, Issue 10, November 2020 | Pages 786-787
The single most important factor in improving mouth cancer survival rates is detecting a tumour before it has reached 2 cm in diameter and has not metastasized to the lymph nodes. Clear descriptions of the abnormalities are essential in referrals to aid the vetting process. The introduction of the lockdown has reduced the number of referrals, which will undoubtedly have a negative impact for patients.
All dental clinicians are expected to be able to recognise abnormalities or changes in the orofacial tissues that may suggest the presence of mouth cancer and, if present, arrange appropriate further assessment. In this respect, we all share the same duty to our patients, both in primary and secondary care, to undertake a regular and an effective soft tissue examination. Size matters with regard to mouth cancer since the single most important factor in improving the 5-year survival is detection of the tumour at less than 2 cm in diameter, before metastatic spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. A mucosal abnormality that is 2 cm in diameter is the equivalent size of one of your fingernails. Squamous cell carcinoma in the mouth is a surface event, representing epithelial growth that is out of control with invasion of underlying tissues. All dental professionals should be able to detect a change in the lining of the mouth that is the size of a fingernail, either visually or by palpation.
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