oral pathology screening and biopsy

 
 
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Oral Pathology

Pathology is disease in the mouth, that can be both benign and malignant. They can include excess skin growth to tumors and oral cancer. Oral pathology screening increases the chance of early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and a better outcome. Every year in the United states more than 50,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer.

General warning signs and symptom

The changes listed below can affect the lips, cheeks, palate, gum, tongue, face, or neck. They do not necessarily mean you have an oral disease or oral cancer. However, if they persist for more than two weeks, it’s important to schedule an appointment for an exam.

  • A lump or thickening of the skin inside the mouth

  • A lump or mass in your neck

  • A sore that won’t heal and bleeds easily

  • Changes in your voice

  • A chronic sore throat or hoarseness, or a chronic feeling that something is stuck in your throat

  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing

  • Difficulty moving your tongue or jaw

  • Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth

  • Pain in the mouth without an obvious cause or reason that doesn’t go away

  • Red patches (erythroplakia), white patches (leukoplakia), or both (erythroleukoplakia) on your tongue, gums, tonsil, or lining of your mouth

 
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Biopsy

Biopsy is the procedure which a small piece or whole piece of the pathology is taken for the pathologist to review under the microscope. This is typically a quick and easy procedure, which just requires local anesthetic, similar to a dental procedure.

After the biopsy, typical results return in about 2 weeks.

Once the results return, the doctor may request to discuss the results with you in person.