Oral Pathology
“Oral Pathology” refers to any abnormality that affects the structures of the mouth, jaws and surrounding tissues. This may refer to:
Mucosal lesions - red or white patches, or ulceration
Cysts or Tumours of the jaws, which may or may not be associated with the teeth
Lumps or bumps of the oral tissues, or of the head and neck region
Oral pathology may be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), and depending on this, may need treatment in an urgent timeframe. It is important to remember that not all potentially serious conditions of the mouth, head and neck are painful, and many can be asymptomatic and only found on examination by your dentist or doctor.
FAQs about Oral Pathology
How are conditions of the mouth, face, head and neck diagnosed?
Due to the wide array of different tissues in the head and neck region, oral and head and neck pathology can represent a diagnostic challenge.
Therefore, your surgeon may undertake:
Extensive history
Examination
Further investigations such as:
Blood tests
Imaging such as further x-rays, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound or PET scan
Biopsy
Your surgeon will discuss the most likely diagnosis, as well as any particular diagnoses which are important to exclude.
What is a biopsy?
A biopsy is a small sample of tissue which is taken and sent for further investigation or microscopic examination, to give an idea of what the lesion represents as a whole . Biopsies of oral tissue can often be done in the clinic, with only minor discomfort due to the local anaesthetic (numbing injection). Not every condition requires a biopsy, but often this is done to guide further investigations or treatment; sometimes for sake of reassurance.
In some circumstances, biopsies of lumps or bumps are done under ultrasound guidance, by a specialist radiologist.
Sometimes a biopsy can be done on the same day of your consult, however the results from a biopsy usually take at least a week, and will be discussed at your follow-up appointment.
Where will my treatment take place?
Depending on the diagnosis, small lumps or bumps or lesions of the oral cavity, face, or head and neck region may be amenable to treatment under local anaesthetic in the practice. Larger or more significant lesions are treated in a hospital setting.
What happens if I am diagnosed with an oral cavity cancer?
A malignancy of the oral cavity or head and neck is a confronting diagnosis. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have extensive experience and training in this field, but are usually only one part of the team of practitioners who manage head and neck cancer. In some circumstances, you may be referred to or discussed at an MDT (Multi-disciplinary team) meeting, in a larger centre. Your surgeon will talk through this further with you, if this is required.