We describe the case of an elderly man with a 3-month history of pain at the tip of his tongue due to a lingual cancer. The lesion appeared slightly depressed and reddish. Our images show the very first changes in the tongue with the development of cancer. Patients with tongue pain often visit the internal medicine department first, so highlighting this case will help physicians detect lingual cancer quickly.
Early lingual cancer; squamous cell carcinoma; tongue pain
A 79-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of pain at the tip of his tongue. Examination of the oral cavity revealed a 10 mm slightly depressed reddish lesion at the tip of his tongue (Fig. 1). Endoscopy showed the lesion more clearly (Fig. 2). Narrow-band imaging, one of the most popular endoscopic modalities with which to enhance the surface structure, showed disappearance of the lingual papillae in the depressed area (Fig. 3).No enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes was detectable. A biopsy was performed, and histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma. The tumour was surgically removed, and no reconstruction of the tongue was needed. The tongue pain resolved after surgery.
Figure 1. A 10 mm slightly depressed reddish lesion on the tip of our patient's tongue
Figure 2. Endoscopic image showing the lingual lesion more clearly
Figure 3. Narrow-band imaging showing disappearance of the lingual papillae in the lesion
The tongue is important for speech, swallowing, mastication and oral hygiene[1]. Surgical treatment of lingual cancer may affect these functions and remarkably decrease quality of life[2]. Therefore, early detection of lingual cancer is important to both improve prognosis and maintain quality of life after surgery. However, early detection of lingual cancer is still difficult, primarily because most physicians are unfamiliar with its early findings although patients with tongue pain often visit the internal medicine department first. We hope our images, which show the very first changes in the tongue with the development of cancer, will help physicians recognize early lingual cancer.