HPV-associated dysplasia of the oral cavity is a precancerous condition in which the cells lining the inside of the mouth develop abnormal features due to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The word dysplasia means that the cells have started to grow and behave abnormally — they are not cancer yet, but without treatment, they …
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An oral melanotic macule is a benign (noncancerous), flat, pigmented spot found on the lining of the mouth. The inside of the mouth is covered by a thin protective layer called the epithelium. In an oral melanotic macule, there is a small, localized increase in melanin, which is the pigment that gives color to skin …
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Hypertrophic candidiasis — also called chronic hyperplastic candidiasis — is a persistent fungal infection of the oral cavity caused by Candida species, most commonly Candida albicans. It produces thickened white patches on the lining of the mouth that cannot be wiped off — unlike simpler forms of oral thrush, where the white coating can be …
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Polymorphous adenocarcinoma is a slow-growing type of cancer that starts in the salivary glands. Unlike most other salivary gland cancers, it almost always starts in one of the small minor salivary glands found in the lining of the mouth and throat — most often in the palate (the roof of the mouth). The word “polymorphous” …
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Secretory carcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in the salivary glands — the glands that make saliva. It is one of the more recently described salivary gland cancers, and it has a few features that set it apart. First, it almost always carries the same specific change in its DNA — a fusion …
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A myoepithelioma is a non-cancerous type of salivary gland tumour. It is made up of specialized myoepithelial cells that are normally found in the salivary gland. This tumour should not be confused with the similarly named myoepithelioma that starts in soft tissue. Is myoepithelioma a type of cancer? No. Myoepithelioma is a benign (non-cancerous) type …
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Lichenoid mucositis is a pattern of inflammation in the lining of the mouth when immune cells attack oral mucosal cells. It is not cancer. It is not a precancerous condition on its own. In most cases, it represents an ongoing immune reaction — either to an autoimmune disease, a medication, or a contact substance — …
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Background: A mucocele of the oral cavity, also known as a mucus cyst, is a noncancerous growth inside the mouth. It is called a “mucocele” because it is filled with mucus. This condition commonly involves the lips, inner cheeks, and floor of the mouth. What causes a mucocele in the oral cavity? Mucoceles in the …
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Oral epithelial dysplasia is a precancerous condition affecting the lining of the oral cavity, including the mouth, tongue, and lips. It develops in the epithelium, the thin surface layer of cells that covers the inside of the mouth and serves as a protective barrier. In oral epithelial dysplasia, epithelial cells grow and mature abnormally. These …
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The oral cavity is the medical term for the inside of the mouth. It is the first part of the aerodigestive tract, which is the system that carries air to the lungs and food to the digestive system. The oral cavity begins at the lips and ends at the oropharynx, which is the part of …
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