Diagnosis and treatment of tongue cancer
Cancer of the tongue is a malignant neoplasm that arises from the small salivary glands, as well as the mucous membrane of the epithelial cells of the tongue. This type of oncology is highly aggressive. Cancer quickly metastasizes to the lymph nodes, from where it quickly spreads literally throughout the body, primarily to the organs of the cervical spine.
Cancer of the tongue can be roughly divided into several types:
- oral swelling;
- swelling of the nasopharynx.
Oral cancer affects the body of the tongue itself: the sides, back (bottom) and tip. Nasopharyngeal cancer develops at the root of the tongue, which invades the distal region.
According to experts, in the initial stages, only cancer of the tongue of the root section, which affects the distal sections, is diagnosed. The main symptoms of tongue root cancer are speech disorders. The patient begins to feel discomfort when eating. Subsequently, a noticeable pain syndrome is added.
If we talk about cancer of the tongue of the oral type (the body of the tongue itself swells), then this malignant neoplasm does not manifest itself in the early stages. Clinical diagnosis is carried out even when the tumor has already metastasized to the lymph nodes and nearby organs of the cervical spine.
Therapy
The Bremen Mitte Oncology Center, which is part of the Nord Clinic Alliance network of clinics , allows achieving high results in the treatment of tongue cancer. Even when the tumor has metastasized and invaded nearby organs, patients can expect a complete recovery.
The center's specialists, oncologists, practice the following methods of therapy:
- glossectomy;
- resection of the tongue;
- lymphadenectomy;
- resection of the jawbone and adjacent soft tissues.
Carrying out operations in the head area is a particularly difficult clinical practice, since it is important to keep the patient not only healthy, but also to hide the traces of surgery as much as possible. For this reason, in parallel with oncologists, plastic surgeons also work on patients.
Surgery can be accompanied by radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy. In cases where cancer is diagnosed in an already inoperable stage, therapy is aimed at improving the patient's quality of life. The pain syndrome will be eliminated, the tongue is resected in the oropharyngeal region, which makes it easier to breathe and swallow food.
Make an appointment with an oncologist at the Nord Klinik Allianz with the coordinating physician at Clinics Direct .