Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth.

Cancer - mouth; Mouth cancer; Head and neck cancer; Squamous cell cancer - mouth

Oral cancer most commonly involves the lips or the tongue. It may also occur on the:

• Cheek lining
• Floor of the mouth
• Gums (gingiva)
• Roof of the mouth (palate)

Most oral cancers are a type called squamous cell carcinomas. These tend to spread quickly.

Smoking and other tobacco use are linked to most cases of oral cancer. Heavy alcohol use also increases your risk for oral cancer.

Other factors that may increase the risk for oral cancer include:

• Chronic irritation (such as from rough teeth, dentures, or fillings)
• Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
• Taking medications that weaken the immune system (immunosuppressants)
• Poor dental and oral hygiene

Some oral cancers begin as a white plaque (leukoplakia) or as a mouth ulcer.

Men get oral cancer twice as often as women do, particularly men older than 40.

Images

Throat anatomy

Mouth anatomy

Review Date: 02/28/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)