SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF LARGE CLINICAL PROPORTIONS INVOLVING GINGIVA, MOUTH FLOOR, TONGUE, AND LYMPH NODES

Abstract

A 60-year-old black man complained of "toothache that created a lump" with 1 year of evolution. Anamnesis evidenced smoking and alcoholism for 48 years. At the extraoral examination, 2 hardened and painful lymph nodes were palpated in the left submandibular and cervical region, the largest one 4 cm in diameter. Intraoral examination revealed ulcerated swelling in the anterior left inferior gingiva and teeth mobility. The left mouth floor and ventral surface of the tongue were committed with a vegetative ulcer, hardened and painful to palpation. Panoramic radiograph showed diffuse radiolucent image in the anterior mandibular alveolar ridge and floating teeth. Biopsy was performed. Diagnostic hypothesis was squamous cell carcinoma. The histopathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. As part of the dental preparation, the upper teeth were extracted before the oncological treatment. The patient was referred for cancer treatment and is in the process of disease staging. A 60-year-old black man complained of "toothache that created a lump" with 1 year of evolution. Anamnesis evidenced smoking and alcoholism for 48 years. At the extraoral examination, 2 hardened and painful lymph nodes were palpated in the left submandibular and cervical region, the largest one 4 cm in diameter. Intraoral examination revealed ulcerated swelling in the anterior left inferior gingiva and teeth mobility. The left mouth floor and ventral surface of the tongue were committed with a vegetative ulcer, hardened and painful to palpation. Panoramic radiograph showed diffuse radiolucent image in the anterior mandibular alveolar ridge and floating teeth. Biopsy was performed. Diagnostic hypothesis was squamous cell carcinoma. The histopathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. As part of the dental preparation, the upper teeth were extracted before the oncological treatment. The patient was referred for cancer treatment and is in the process of disease staging.