Picture credit: Dr Christine Saw Lee Lynne
58 year old lady went to see her general practitioner for backache. She has history of GERD. Towards the end of consultation she casually mentioned her tongue felt dry and painful.
Every symptom a patient reports, no matter how seemingly minor or unrelated, can be a crucial piece of the diagnostic puzzle. It’s essential for healthcare providers to listen attentively and consider all complaints during consultations. This practice not only enhances the patient’s trust in their doctor but also significantly improves diagnostic accuracy. Ignoring or downplaying symptoms can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses, potentially worsening the patient’s condition. Taking every complaint seriously, including something as subtle as a dry and painful tongue mentioned in passing, could be the key to early detection of conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Such vigilance can lead to earlier interventions, better outcomes, and a more personalized approach to patient care.
Cancer of the Tongue: Overview and Histopathology
Introduction Cancer of the tongue is a form of oral cancer that occurs when malignant cells develop in the tissues of the tongue, primarily affecting the squamous cells on its surface. It’s more common in older adults and has risk factors including smoking, alcohol use, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and a history of other head and neck cancers.
Symptoms Symptoms of tongue cancer can include a persistent sore on the tongue that does not heal, pain, a feeling of dryness or a rough patch, difficulty swallowing, and changes in speech. Often, symptoms like a dry, painful tongue could be early signs prompting further investigation.
Histopathology Histologically, the majority of tongue cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). This type of cancer originates in the flat, thin squamous cells that line the surface of the tongue. Under microscopic examination, these cancerous cells are characterized by various degrees of differentiation. Well-differentiated cells resemble normal squamous cells with keratin pearls, while poorly differentiated cells may lack these features and display more aggressive growth patterns.
The pathology of tongue cancer also includes the potential for local invasion and metastasis. The cancer cells can invade deeper tissues of the tongue and spread to lymph nodes and other organs. Biopsy and histopathological analysis are crucial for confirming the diagnosis and determining the cancer’s stage and grade, which are key to planning effective treatment.
Conclusion The early mention of symptoms such as a dry and painful tongue, even if seemingly minor, should prompt a thorough investigation to rule out serious conditions like tongue cancer. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving prognosis and can significantly affect the patient’s quality of life and survival rates. Therefore, healthcare providers should always consider all patient complaints with due diligence and investigative rigor.
Thank you Dr Christine Saw Lee Lynne for your contribution.
