Oral and tongue surgeries vary depending on the condition being treated. Among the many diseases affecting the mouth and tongue, benign and malignant tumors in these tissues are particularly common.
Warning Signs of Oral and Tongue Cancer:
While most tongue ulcers are benign and resolve with simple treatment, ulcers that persist despite treatment—especially in older adults—require medical evaluation to rule out cancerous changes. Such cancerous changes are common among the elderly, particularly smokers.- Enlargement or a lump on the tongue.
- Changes in the color of the lining and tissues of the mouth and tongue.
- Ulcers in the mouth or on the tongue that do not heal with treatment.
- Enlargement of the lower or upper jaw.
- Jaw swelling.
- Loosening of teeth or bleeding gums.
- Swelling of the cheek.
What is the difference between a benign tumor and a cancerous tumor in the mouth and tongue?
Doctors can distinguish between many benign and cancerous changes through a simple clinical examination. However, a definitive diagnosis requires histological analysis of a sample taken from the growth. Cancerous tumors are characterized by one or more of the following features:- Rapid growth or a recent acceleration in changes.
- Failure to respond to simple treatments; symptoms do not improve over time.
- Associated symptoms such as pain and bleeding.
- Contact with the projections (papillae) of the tongue.
- Association with an enlarged mass in the neck (lymph nodes).
- Higher incidence among the elderly and smokers.
- Higher incidence associated with chewing khat and tumbak.
Treatment of Benign Oral and Lingual Conditions:
The mouth and tongue are susceptible to various benign changes, pigmentations, and ulcers. These conditions require accurate diagnosis and treatment to prevent them from worsening—making them harder to treat if they become chronic—and to avoid the development of cancerous changes. Such conditions include:- Pigmentation and discoloration affecting the oral mucosa.
- Ulcers and inflammation resulting from autoimmune diseases.
- Ulcers and inflammation caused by medication side effects.
- Ulcers and inflammation resulting from the tongue rubbing against sharp tooth edges.
- Oral tissue fibrosis caused by smoking and the chewing of khat, tumbak, and betel nut.
Treatment for these benign conditions varies, ranging from medication and adherence to healthy habits and guidelines—including the use of laser therapy for various acute and chronic oral and tongue diseases and inflammations—to minor surgical interventions.
Key medical advice and healthy habits for oral and tongue health:
- Drink water regularly.
- Limit the consumption of spicy foods and pickles.
- Refrain from smoking, using shisha (hookah), and chewing qat or tumbak.
- Regulate meal intake to avoid digestive issues and acid reflux, which can affect the health and integrity of the mouth and tongue.
- Maintain oral hygiene by regularly brushing with toothpaste and using mouthwash.
- Do not self-medicate with oral antifungal gels or medications; always consult a doctor.
Services provided by Dr. Mohamed Adel for patients with oral and tongue conditions:
Dr. Mohamed Adel is a surgeon specializing in head, neck, oral, and tongue surgery. He obtained surgical fellowships in this specialty from Taiwan and India—countries with some of the world’s highest prevalence rates of oral and tongue cancer—thereby gaining extensive experience in specialized surgical procedures for the resection and reconstruction of tumors in these areas. This is largely due to the widespread prevalence of khat chewing. Dr. Mohamed Adel participated in publishing the largest international scientific study to date evaluating recurrent oral and tongue tumors in patients who chew khat.Dr. Mohamed Adel offers his expertise to patients in the following areas:
- Evaluation of oral and tongue ulcers, masses, and tumors.
- Laser-assisted biopsy of the mouth and tongue.
- Laser-assisted excision of oral and tongue tumors.
- Laser treatment for oral and tongue ulcers and chronic pigmentation.
- Endoscopic excision of oral and tongue tumors via an intraoral approach.
- Excision of cancerous oral and tongue tumors.
- Excision and reconstruction of throat and gum tumors.
- Neck lymph node dissection for oral and tongue cancer patients.
- Oral and tongue reconstruction using tissue grafts and flaps.
Intraoral surgeries performed by Dr. Mohamed Adel for oral, neck, and pharyngeal tumors:
- Endoscopic thyroidectomy via an intraoral approach.
- Endoscopic parathyroidectomy via an intraoral approach.
- Laser-assisted biopsy of the mouth and tongue.
- Transoral excision of pharyngeal and parapharyngeal tumors.
- Excision and reconstruction of tumors in the floor of the mouth and tongue.
- Resection of benign and malignant minor salivary gland tumors via an intraoral approach.
- Excision of salivary cysts via an intraoral approach.
- Resection of the styloid process (for Eagle syndrome) via an intraoral approach.
- Resection of pharyngeal and parapharyngeal tumors extending to the skull base.
- Resection of maxillary and mandibular tumors and reconstruction via an intraoral approach.
- Resection of malignant tumors of the tonsils and palate.
- Intraoral palatal reconstruction following tumor resection.
