Head and Neck Tumors Flashcards
What is the more common name for an aphthous ulcer?
What causes them?
Canker Sore
Unknown etiology
What ages are aphthous ulcers most likely to present?
What is the treatment?
First two decades of life
spontaneously resolve in a week or two
What causes Herpes Stomatitis?
How is it transmitted?
What is the common name?
Herpes Simplex Virus 1
person-to-person contact
Cold Sore
How is herpes stomatitis diagnosed?
How is it treated?
Diagnosed by a Tzanck stain (multinucleated, marginization of chromatin, and molding seen)
It’s not! It lays dormant and reactivates when immunocompromised or stressed.
What organism causes thrush?
How does it present clinically?
Candida
White plaque in the mouth that can be scraped off
What are some conditions associated with thrush?
Dentures Diabetes Steroids Antibiotic therapy Cancer Immunosuppression
What is a squamous papilloma?
What conditions is it associated with?
Benign Epithelial hyperplasia
HPV 11 and 6 infection
Where can a squamous papilloma occur?
What ages are most likely to get a squamous papilloma?
Lingual, Buccal, Laryngeal, Labial mucosa
Affects ages 30-50
What is the difference between laryngeal nodules and laryngeal polyps?
Location and number
Nodules are bilateral and on the vocal cord
Polyps are singular and in the ventricle or Reinke’s space
What causes laryngeal polyps/ nodules?
Who is most likely to get them?
Do they increase the risk of cancer?
Smoking, overuse of vocal cords
Males
No
What does a polyp look like on histology?
Normal sqamous epithelium with large amounts of edema and keratin build-up (large pink, swirly swatches)
Distinguish between leukoplakia and erythroplakia (appearance and significance)
Leukoplakias are white patches that cannot be scraped off.
Erythroplakias are reddened, granular areas.
Erythroplakias are more likely to result in epithelial dysplasia & cancer.
Recall the normal progression to an epithelial carcinoma.
Describe the appearance of such a carcinoma.
Hyperplasia > Dysplasia > Carcinoma in Situ > Invasive carcinoma
Proliferation of basal cells, loss of cell polarity, mitotic figures & hyperchromasia.
What is the most common oral cancer?
Describe its usual demography.
Squamous cell carcinoma.
Usually older adults, male prevalence.
What risk factors are associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma?
Tobacco & alcohol (synergistic)
Family history
HPV 16/18
Erythro > Leukoplakia
Describe the prognosis and sites of metastasis of oral SCC.
Survival is decent if caught early stage, dismal if not.
Lung, liver, bone. (lymph nodes too, of course)