Common cancer of oral cavity is ?

Chitranjjan National Cancer Institute Kolkata - 2021

Pathology & Genetics

Easy

Appeared in: Chitranjjan National Cancer Institute Kolkata - 2021

Explanation

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent malignancy of the oral cavity, accounting for over 90% of cases.
This cancer arises from the squamous cells that form the surface lining (epithelium) of the mouth, tongue, and lips.
The high prevalence is directly related to the tissue type that lines the oral cavity and its exposure to carcinogens.
Key risk factors strongly associated with oral SCC include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection.

Option A: Adenocarcinoma originates from glandular cells. While it is a type of head and neck cancer, it is much more common in the salivary glands rather than the surface lining of the oral cavity.
Option C: Sarcomas are malignant tumors that arise from connective tissues like bone, muscle, or cartilage. They are extremely rare in the oral cavity.
Option D: Melanoma is a cancer of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells). Oral mucosal melanoma is very rare, representing a small fraction of all oral cancers.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Epidemiology and pathology of oral cancers as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses have a vital role in performing thorough oral assessments during routine care to screen for early signs of cancer, such as non-healing ulcers, or red/white patches (erythroplakia/leukoplakia).
Patient education is a key nursing intervention, focusing on risk reduction by advising cessation of tobacco and alcohol use and discussing HPV vaccination.
What if? A patient with a history of chewing tobacco presents with a painless white patch on the inside of their cheek that hasn't gone away in three weeks. The nurse's priority is to ensure the patient is referred urgently to a dentist or doctor for a biopsy, as this is a classic sign of leukoplakia, a precancerous lesion.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the 'common' or 'most frequent' cancer in a specific location, the 'oral cavity'.
Recall the basic histology of the oral cavity. The mouth is lined predominantly by squamous epithelium.
Connect the tissue type to the cancer type. Cancers are often named after the cells from which they originate. Therefore, a carcinoma of the squamous epithelium is a squamous cell carcinoma.
Evaluate the options based on this knowledge. Adenocarcinoma (glandular), Sarcoma (connective tissue), and Melanoma (melanocytes) originate from different, less common cell types within the oral cavity structure, making them less likely to be the 'most common' cancer of the oral lining itself.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pathology-Textbook of PATHOLOGYHarsh Mohan Part 3 (515-969) pp. 11-13, 20-22