Diagnostic Tests for Oral cancer
Oral cancer: Diagnostic Tests
The list of diagnostic tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Oral cancer
includes:
Oral cancer Tests: Book Excerpts
Home Diagnostic Testing
These home medical tests may be relevant to Oral cancer:
- Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
- Cancer-Related Home Testing:
Oral cancer Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Tests and diagnosis discussion for Oral cancer:
Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)
A head and neck
exam, which should be a part of every dental check-up, will allow
your dentist to detect early signs of oral cancer. (Source: excerpt from Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)
What You Need To Know About Oral Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)
If an abnormal area has been found in the oral cavity, a
biopsy
is the only way to know whether it is cancer. Usually, the
patient is referred to an oral
surgeon or an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, who
removes part or all of the lump or abnormal-looking area. A
pathologist
examines the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer
cells.
Almost all oral cancers are squamous
cell carcinomas . Squamous cells line the oral
cavity.
If the pathologist finds oral cancer, the patient's doctor
needs to know the stage, or extent, of the disease in order to
plan the best treatment. Staging
tests and exams help the doctor find out whether the cancer
has spread and what parts of the body are affected. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Oral Cancer: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Oral Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)
Staging generally includes dental x-rays
and x-rays of the head and chest. The doctor may also want the
patient to have a CT
(or CAT) scan . A CT scan is a series of x-rays
put together by a computer to form detailed pictures of areas
inside the body. Ultrasonography
is another way to produce pictures of areas in the body.
High-frequency sound waves (ultrasound), which cannot be heard
by humans, are bounced off organs and tissue. The pattern of
echoes produced by these waves creates a picture called a
sonogram. Sometimes the doctor asks for MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging), a procedure in which pictures
are created using a magnet linked to a computer. The doctor
also feels the lymph nodes in the neck to check for swelling
or other changes. In most cases, the patient will have a
complete physical examination before treatment begins. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Oral Cancer: NCI)
Diagnosis of Oral cancer: medical news summaries:
The following medical news items
are relevant to diagnosis of Oral cancer:
Diagnostic Tests for Oral cancer: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the diagnostic tests for Oral cancer.
Mouth lesions:
History and physical examination
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Begin your evaluation with a thorough history. Ask the patient when the lesions appeared and whether he has noticed pain, odor, or drainage. Also ask about associated complaints, particularly skin lesions. Obtain a complete drug history, including drug allergies and antibiotic use, and a complete medical history. Note especially malignancy, sexually transmitted disease, I.V. drug use, recent infection, or trauma. Ask about his dental history, including oral hygiene habits, the frequency of dental examinations, and the date of his most recent dental visit.
Next, perform a complete oral examination, noting lesion sites and character. Examine the patient’s lips for color and texture. Inspect and palpate the buccal mucosa and tongue for color, texture, and contour; note especially painless ulcers on the sides or base of the tongue. Hold the tongue with a piece of gauze, lift it, and examine its underside and the floor of the mouth. Depress the tongue with a tongue blade, and examine the oropharynx. Inspect the teeth and gums, noting missing, broken, or discolored teeth; dental caries; excessive debris; and bleeding, inflamed, swollen, or discolored gums.
Palpate the neck for adenopathy, especially in patients who smoke tobacco or use alcohol excessively.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Mouth lesions:
History and physical examination
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Begin your evaluation with a thorough history. Ask the patient when the lesions appeared and whether he has noticed any pain, odor, or drainage. Also ask about associated complaints, particularly skin lesions. Obtain a complete drug history, including drug allergies and antibiotic use, and a complete medical history. Note especially any malignancy, sexually transmitted disease, I.V. drug use, recent infection, or trauma. Ask about his dental history, including oral hygiene habits, frequency of dental examinations, and the date of his most recent dental visit.
Next, perform a complete oral examination, noting lesion sites and character. Examine the patient’s lips for color and texture. Inspect and palpate the buccal mucosa and tongue for color, texture, and contour; note especially any painless ulcers on the sides or base of the tongue. Hold the tongue with a piece of gauze, lift it, and examine its underside and the floor of the mouth. Depress the tongue with a tongue blade, and examine the oropharynx. Inspect the teeth and gums, noting missing, broken, or discolored teeth; dental caries; excessive debris; and bleeding, inflamed, swollen, or discolored gums.
Palpate the neck for adenopathy, especially in patients who smoke tobacco or use alcohol excessively.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Mouth lesions:
Physical assessment
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Perform a complete oral examination, noting lesion sites and character. Examine the patient’s lips for color and texture. Inspect and palpate the buccal mucosa and tongue for color, texture, and contour; especially note any painless ulcers on the sides or base of the tongue. Hold the tongue with a piece of gauze, lift it, and examine its underside and the floor of the mouth. Depress the tongue with a tongue blade, and examine the oropharynx. Inspect the teeth and gums, noting missing, broken, or discolored teeth; dental caries; excessive debris; and bleeding, inflamed, swollen, or discolored gums.
Palpate the neck for adenopathy, especially in patients who smoke tobacco or use alcohol excessively.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Mouth lesions:
History and physical examination
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Begin your evaluation with a thorough history. Ask the patient when the lesions appeared and whether he has noticed odor or drainage or experienced pain. Also ask about associated complaints, particularly skin lesions. Obtain a complete drug history, including drug allergies and antibiotic use, and a complete medical history. Note especially malignancy, sexually transmitted disease, I.V. drug use, recent infection, or trauma. Ask about his dental history, including oral hygiene habits, the frequency of dental examinations, and the date of his most recent dental visit.
Next, perform a complete oral examination, noting lesion sites and character. Examine the patient's lips for color and texture. Inspect and palpate the buccal mucosa and tongue for color, texture, and contour; note especially painless ulcers on the sides or base of the tongue. Hold the tongue with a piece of gauze, lift it, and examine its underside and the floor of the mouth. Depress the tongue with a tongue blade, and examine the oropharynx. Inspect the teeth and gums, noting missing, broken, or discolored teeth; dental caries; excessive debris; and bleeding, inflamed, swollen, or discolored gums. Note any odor.
Palpate the neck for adenopathy, especially in patients who use tobacco or ingest alcohol excessively.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
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