Oral Cancer Series 3: Hard Palate Cancer

Palate Cancer

The palate is the roof of the mouth, separating the nasal and oral cavity. The palate has 2 sections: hard palate and soft palate. The hard palate is made of bone and the soft palate is made of muscles. The hard palate keeps the roots of teeth in place and is near the front of the mouth known as the oral cavity. The soft palate near the back of the mouth and the throat, connected to the uvula.

What is it?

The hard palate cancer is a cancer that forms on the hard palate, in the oral cavity. Generally this cancer is very rare, and when detected early, it can be cured easily.

Types of hard palate cancer:

• Squamous cell carcinoma

• Adenoid cystic carcinoma

• Mucosal melanoma

Causes of hard palate cancer and symptoms

Squamous cell carcinoma

- This is the most common type of hard palate cancer

- It is caused by poor oral hygiene, alcohol, and tobacco

- Form little-bumped/rough patches

- Colored white

Adenoid cystic carcinoma

- Cancer in the salivary glands in the roof of the mouth

- Causes are undetermined, but strong association with genetic mutations

- Bumpy ulcers colored pink and red

Mucosal melanoma

- This is the most rarest of the hard palate cancer

- Dark colored (gray)

Other symptoms:

A model of a palate cancer

- Bad odor in the mouth

- Bleeding

- Changed in teeth formation or teeth loss

- Pain when swallowing

- Difficulty opening jaw

- Difficulty in speech

At first, these ulcers and bumps are painless, but as they continue linger, they become painful.

Diagnosis

A biopsy is usually performed first. A biopsy is when a sample of the tissue is taken, and sent to a pathologist to examine it. Afterwards, a CT scan or MRI is performed. When the cancer may have spread beyond the palate the doctor will usually perform further imaging tests.

Treatments

The main method of treatment is usually through surgery. In many cases the bone next to the tumor also has cancer and may spread if not removed.

When the tumor is removed, leaving an empty area that is difficult to be closed on its own, a prothetic is placed over the hole.

Reconstructive surgery can also be performed by receiving tissue from a donor and transplanting the tissue on the roof of the mouth.

Sources:

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/cancer-of-the-hard-palate--8-things-to-know.h00-159616278.html

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24789-hard-palate-cancer

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/p/palate-cancer.html#:~:text=The%20palate%20is%20divided%20into,painless%2C%20but%20later%20becomes%20painful.