What Oral Cancer Tests Does the Doctor Perform to Identify Mouth Cancer?

Mouth cancer does not cause visible signs in its early stages. Therefore, pay attention to the changes in the oral cavity, mainly if you are a daily smoker or drinker. During regular dental exams, the dentist helps to detect many oral cancers.

Even studies show that successful cancer treatment highly depends on the diagnosis and the treatment of the disease in its early stages. Oral cancer screening in Uncasville, CT is an examination of the inside of the mouth for cancer symptoms.

How the Dentist Diagnoses Mouth Cancer?

Below are the different oral cancer tests a patient can expect:

1. Ultrasound

An ultrasound uses sound waves and echoes to form pictures inside the body. The device includes a transducer that generates sound waves and picks up the echoes. The computer converts these echoes into pictures that let the doctor finds the abnormalities in the mouth.

a) Neck Ultrasound

A neck ultrasound is beneficial in checking the swollen or abnormal areas in the lymph nodes of the neck. During this, the doctor will move the transducer along the patient’s neck.

2. Biopsy

The dentist or a specialist will take a sample of tiny tissue from your mouth and send it for evaluation. Only this test can confirm the diagnosis of oral cancer. Below are the different types of biopsies used by the doctor.

a) Exfoliative Cytology

During this biopsy, the doctor will scrape off the suspicious region gently to collect cell samples. Then, he/she will put them in a glass and use a dye to coat it. If these cells look strange under a microscope, the doctor conducts a deeper biopsy.

b) Incisional Biopsy

This type of biopsy involves cutting off a tiny tissue piece from the area that appears to be abnormal. If the dentist finds the abnormal area easy to access, he/she takes a sample. But if the doctor finds cancer deep inside the throat or mouth, the expert conducts a biopsy in the operating room.

3. Imaging Tests

The doctor at Uncasville Dental Associates may conduct different imaging tests to get more details about the tumors.

a) CT Scan

Computed tomography scans use X-ray technology to click pictures of the inside of the body from diverse angles. A computer helps to combine these images to create detailed 3D images. They help the doctor major the size of the tumor and determine whether it has spread to the lymph nodes or neck or lower jawbone.

Sometimes, the doctor injects a special diet, contrasting medium into the vein to get better detail on the image. The expert also gives this die in the form of liquid to swallow or a pill.

b) MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging gives an in-depth view of oral cancer. It is beneficial in identifying whether the cancer has spread to other body regions or not.

c) PET

Positron Emission tomography can also diagnose patients with oral cancer. It helps the doctor evaluate if the tumor has moved to the lymph nodes and also checks the entire body for its spread. Sometimes, the doctor blends a PET scan with a CT scan.

During this, the doctor injects a tiny amount of radioactive sugar into the body. Then, a scanner identifies it to generate pictures inside the body. It also displays if cancer has spread to the bones.

4. Endoscopy

In a few cases, the doctor uses an endoscopy to check hard-to-see regions in the mouth. It mainly includes behind the nose and larynx.

5. Barium Swallow

This oral cancer test helps the doctor identify abnormalities in the mouth, pharynx, or nearby regions. It is mainly beneficial in identifying early and small oral tumors. In the barium swallow test, the doctor will ask you to drink barium which coats the esophagus and throat balls. Then, he/she will take a series of X-rays. This test is also beneficial if the cancer is creating swallowing issues.

6. Dental Exams

The doctor recommends a dental exam if radiation is a part of the oral cancer treatment plan. When the doctor notices that it requires the removal of teeth and other structures in the mouth, he/she recommends a prosthodontist.

Good dental health does not mean you skip dental screening in Uncasville, CT for the rest of your life.