Late diagnosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma: clinical implications

Abstract

ABSTRACT Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still being late diagnosed in Brazilian population, which implies in worst survival rates. The present clinical case aimed to report a 64-year-old female patient that was referred to the university with main complain of a lump on the tongue. During anamnesis, she did not report addictions, such as smoking or drinking. Extra-oral physical examination revealed an increase and stiffening of the submandibular lymph nodes. Intraorally, it could be observed an extensive and ulcerated nodule on the lateral right tongue, extending to the floor of the mouth and to the alveolar ridge. The lesion was firm, but with irregular shape and raised edges, undefined limits and the patient reported about 3 months of evolution. The clinical hypothesis was of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. An incisional biopsy was performed and the histopathological examination, confirmed the diagnosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Although the traditional risk factors for OSCC are tobacco and alcohol consumption, with a higher incidence in man, the present clinical case highlights the occurrence of OSCC in a female patient, without the traditional risk factors. An increase of tongue SCC in women and without risk factors has been observed in the literature, but the etiological risk factor associated with this increase has not been yet defined. Therefore, this clinical case reinforce that SCC can occur in patients without risk factors ant thar it is necessary to be aware to the initial signs of the disease, since late diagnosis implies in worst survival rates.

Keywords

• Carcinoma, Squamous cell
• Mouth
• Mouth neoplasms