Oral Cancer:

1. Pathophysiologic etiology

1.1. Nicotine and 28 other chemicals within chewing tobacco are absorbed through the mucosal lining. Nitrosamines (formed dur. fermentation) Polonium-210 (Radioactive element in fertilizer) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons lead to inflammation as well as tissue damage.

1.1.1. Simm, C. Q., & Elston, D. M. (2017, June 29). Cancers of the oral mucosa. Medscape. Retrieved from Cancers of the Oral Mucosa: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology Group 2 34A8E98B-62ED-4216-98D6-E986304F4C2E

2. Causative Factors

2.1. Lifestyle: Including diet, tobacco and/or alcohol use, sunlight exposure (lip). Infective agents such as HPV and immunosuppression.

2.1.1. Smokeless tobacco and cancer. (2010). Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/smokeless-fact-sheet#q3

3. Risk Factors

3.1. Due to the nicotine within chewing tobacco, it is highly addictive. The constant exposure to the cancer causing agents within the tobacco can increase risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, cheek, gums, lips or tongue.

3.1.1. Smokeless tobacco use also increases risk of pancreatic and esophageal cancer.

4. Diagnostic Tests

4.1. After consulting a physician, a biopsy will be taken of the area. Pathology will reveal of Squamous carcinoma cells are present.

4.1.1. New vocabulary

5. Common Findings

5.1. Early SCC (especially of the mouth) cancer is asymptomatic, contributing to delayed diagnosis. Early presentation usually involves a rapidly growing keratotic growth, or shallow ulcer.

5.1.1. Squamous cell carcinoma. (2018). Retrieved from Squamous Cell Carcinoma – Dermpath Diagnostics

6. Treatments: Mohs surgery: removal of the cancerous cells. Excisional: removal of the entire tumor. Cryosurgery: freeze tumor and kill cells with liquid nitrogen

7. Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the second most frequent form of skin cancer. proliferation and mutation of the SCC results due to an aberration of the p53 tumor suppressor gene,