Growths on the tongue: causes and treatment methods

The epidemiology (prevalence) of tongue cancer is on average 5 cases per 100 thousand population.

Among the recorded cases of oral tumors, it accounts for up to 60%. Despite the relatively simple diagnosis of this disease, there are advanced cases - people often do not notice the signs or ignore the symptoms of tongue cancer.

Mechanism of occurrence

Growths on the tongue are formed from epithelium, fat cells, muscle fibers, nerves, blood and lymphatic vessels.
The tumor can arise against the background of embryogenesis disorders - the rudiments of foreign tissue structures get onto the tongue. Under favorable conditions, HPV begins to actively multiply and penetrates the basal cells of the epithelium. The DNA of the virus invades the DNA of cells, changes their functions, causes them to actively and chaotically divide and multiply.

Doctor about condylomas in the mouth:

Reasons for appearance

Growths on the tongue appear against the background of dental diseases, dysfunction of internal organs, or due to non-compliance with hygiene rules. One of the main causes is the human papillomavirus (HPV). When it is activated, papillomas are formed. The risk group includes people with autoimmune pathologies and immunodeficiency conditions, people who are promiscuous.

Provoking factors:

taking certain corticosteroids;
stomatitis, glossitis, periodontitis, systematic injuries of the tongue and oral mucosa;
indulging in hot or spicy foods leads to burns on the mucous membrane, which are poorly treated in a constantly humid environment;
candidiasis, herpes;
intestinal infections, helminthic infestations, metabolic disorders;
frequent stress;
smoking, alcohol abuse, working in hazardous industries;
avitaminosis;
changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy, menopause, and puberty;
In children, papillomas appear due to the habit of putting dirty hands and objects into their mouths;
contact with a sick person or carrier of infection.

In older people, growths on the tongue occur due to age-related changes in the body and improper care of dentures.

Congenital growths in children appear due to poor heredity, intrauterine development disorders, viral diseases of the mother during pregnancy, and birth injuries.

Doctors about HPV:

Methods of infection

The human papillomavirus is transmitted from person to person in different ways.

How people become infected with HPV:

during sexual intercourse;
in public places by domestic means - toilets, gyms, baths;
self-infection – when papilloma is injured;
intrauterine infection from mother to child.

For a long time, the infection does not manifest itself in any way; the virus begins to actively multiply against the background of weakened immunity.

Important! Barrier contraceptives do not protect 100% from human papillomavirus infection.

Prevention

In order to avoid accidental infection, you must:

Strict adherence to personal hygiene;
Reducing stressful situations;
Strengthening the immune system;
Timely treatment of viral diseases;
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
Proper nutrition;
Limit close contacts with an infected partner;
Avoiding hypothermia;
Complete rest, lasting at least 8 hours.

Kinds

There are 2 types of growths :

Reactive - appear due to constant mechanical damage to the tongue, burns.
Neoplastic – a consequence of disorders in the body. Most often, many such neoplasms appear in various parts of the oral cavity.

By shape

Growths on the tongue can have different shapes :

Most often, neoplasms have clear boundaries and are colored white, pink, or red.
The pointed formations are pink, have a stalk, cause significant discomfort, are often injured, grow quickly and occupy large areas of the mucosa.
Flat growths have a rounded shape and resemble plaques in appearance. They grow slowly, are damaged less often, and practically do not bother.
With stomatitis, reactions to medications, microtraumas, the growths look like pimples and blisters.

By location on the tongue

Growths can appear on any part of the tongue mucosa. The main places of localization are the tip, lateral surfaces, and root. Most often they occur on the side; less often, tumors form on the hard palate and lower surface.

What could it be

The most common types of growths on the tongue are lipomas, fibroids, papillomas, hemangiomas, and polyps.

Type of growth	What does it look like
Papillomas	Flat - noticeably rise above the epithelium, wide, light in color. They are formed one at a time. Pointed (condylomas) are light-colored neoplasms in the form of papillae with a sharp end. They often merge into groups, grow, and increase in size. Externally similar to the comb or inflorescences of cauliflower. Thread-like - thin, protruding noticeably above the surface of the epithelium, colored bright red. Form groups.
Polyps	The neoplasm is flat or convex in shape in the form of a lump, formed from ectopic gastric mucosa. Most often it appears on the root of the tongue.
Adenomas	Formed from the glands of the mucous membrane of the tongue, it looks like a small ball. Localized on the tip and root of the tongue.
Lipomas	Consist of fat cells. They have a soft, lobed structure, located on the root of the tongue or under it. They grow slowly and do not hurt. Flap lipoma is flat. Can grow deep into tissues. Vulgar - a small bulge on the tongue.
Fibroids	Consist of connective tissue. Elastic, painless neoplasms are round in shape and sometimes have a stalk. They do not differ in color from the mucous membrane, sometimes they have a pale yellow or white tint. Neurofibroma contains nerve fibers and is therefore painful. It forms on the root of the tongue and does not differ in appearance from a regular fibroma.
Myomas	Growths on the surface of the tongue with a dense structure, up to 1 cm in size, are covered with a mucous membrane. Formed during the proliferation of muscle cells.
Hemangiomas	Vascular neoplasms look like red or blue spots. Sometimes they bleed.
Cysts	A retention cyst consists of muscle fibers and forms on the inner surface, the frenulum of the tip of the tongue. This is a small ball with liquid inside.
Botriomycomoma	The tumor is flat or spherical, reaches 10 cm in size, sometimes consists of several lobules. The shade varies from red to burgundy, the surface is smooth or covered with crusts.
Lymphangioma	Congenital benign neoplasm. Grows from the walls of lymphatic vessels. The surface is covered with bubbles, growths are located on the upper surface and tip of the tongue. They often become inflamed and are often accompanied by problems with bite and speech.
Struma	It is rare and consists of thyroid tissue cells. This is a small node up to 3 cm in size, formed at the root of the tongue.
Sialadenitis	The tumor appears against the background of inflammation of the saliva and sublingual gland. Causes: infectious pathologies, tuberculosis, mumps, syphilis.

Clinical case – condylomas on the tongue:

Growths on the tongue in adults and children

Neoplasms in children and adults are equally common. In adults, these are mainly papillomas, adenomas, cysts, and lipomas.

In a child, papillomas are presented in the form of epithelial hyperplasia - the tissues of the tongue mucosa grow greatly. The active growth of HPV most often begins after influenza, sore throat, or a viral disease. Lymphangioma is diagnosed mainly in children under one year of age. Hemangiomas often occur in girls.

Tongue root cancer

You should pay attention to even the slightest changes

This is one of the most difficult types of cancer, since the location of the tumor does not allow it to be removed without causing great harm to the person. In most cases, after cancer of the root of the tongue, that is, after treatment, a person loses the ability to speak, and his quality of life noticeably decreases.

Cancer of the root of the tongue is also dangerous because symptoms begin to appear only 2 or 3 months after the tumor has formed. In addition, a person cannot independently see any changes occurring at the root of the tongue, and therefore only a doctor can make a diagnosis or detect the problem. As for the symptoms of tongue cancer in later stages, these include:

Symptoms

When any growth forms on the tongue, pain and discomfort in the mouth occurs.
Problems with chewing food, speaking, and swallowing are often observed. Sometimes swelling and redness of the tissue occurs, and one or more papillae become enlarged. But all pronounced symptoms are absent in the initial stages; they appear when the tumor is of a significant size. Sialadenitis is manifested by general weakness, fever, pain and burning, swelling of the affected area, and an unpleasant taste appears in the mouth.

If the structure or color of the growth changes, it begins to grow rapidly - this may be a sign that the growth has degenerated into a malignant tumor.

Reference! In children, papillomas on the tongue occupy large areas, often the neoplasms are covered with a white coating.

Diagnostics

The dentist diagnoses and treats growths on the tongue.
Sometimes additional consultation with a dermatologist, endocrinologist, virologist, immunologist and otolaryngologist may be required. Examination and diagnostic methods:

Anamnesis collection, examination of the oral cavity and skin. The doctor notes the color, shape and consistency of the growth on the tongue, its surface, and location.
A general blood test shows the presence and intensity of inflammatory processes in the body.
Tissue biopsy - biomaterial is sent for histological examination.
PCR diagnostics – identifying the type of causative agent of the pathological process.
Analysis for thyroid hormones.
Digen test.

The methods allow us to identify the characteristics of the disease with high accuracy. But at the initial stage of HPV development, there are often false positive and false negative results.

Which doctor should I contact?

To diagnose the disease, you must first consult a therapist. It is he who will examine the person and establish a presumptive diagnosis, after which he will issue a referral to an infectious disease specialist (this is a viral disease) and a dermatologist (although this is not skin, even the examination of a piece of tissue will be carried out using the same methods as the examination of the skin).

The dentist plays an important role in establishing the diagnosis - he is the first to notice neoplasms during a routine examination. Therefore, you should not neglect visits to him.

Can growths be malignant?

At any moment, the growth can degenerate into a malignant tumor. Causes: constant damage to the tumor when talking or chewing food. Tongue cancer is classified as squamous cell; other forms, such as basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma, are rarely diagnosed.

Types of malignant tumors:

An ulcer is a dense neoplasm that turns into an ulcer; it often hurts and bleeds. Located on the lower surface of the tongue.
Infiltrative - a seal on the tip or back surface of the tongue, covered with a white coating. Constantly and severely painful.
Papillary - a solid tumor on a stalk, formed on the lateral surfaces. Characterized by slow growth.

The prevalence of tongue cancer is 5 cases per 100 thousand population . The disease is easy to diagnose. But people often do not notice or ignore the symptoms of the pathology and go to the doctor with already advanced forms of the disease.

Formation of tongue cancer

Stages and symptoms of tongue cancer:

Initial . Whitish spots appear on the tongue, most often on the lateral surfaces. These are papillary growths that look very similar to plaque. During examination, doctors often mistake formations for manifestations of glossitis and stomatitis. There is no pain or discomfort.
Stage of clinical manifestations . The spots gradually become denser and transform into a tumor. Pain appears, which often radiates to the neck, ears, and temporal region; the tongue, neck, and face swell. When the formation becomes infected and suppurates, unpleasant odor from the mouth is disturbing. Problems arise with swallowing, articulation, and some areas of the tongue become numb. Metastases often spread to the cervical and submandibular lymph nodes.
Launched . Necrosis and tissue decay begins, the tumor penetrates deep into the tongue.
Terminal . Metastases extend beyond the oral cavity - lungs, liver, bones. Treatment at this stage is ineffective, and the prognosis is disappointing.

Specific diagnosis involves examining a smear of the fingerprint to identify cancer cells. A biopsy of the tumor is required. Additional research methods - ultrasound of the tongue, lower jaw and neck, x-ray or CT scan of the skull are prescribed to identify metastases.

Video about tongue cancer:

Treatment methods:

Surgical . To radically remove a malignant tumor, partial resection or complete removal of the tongue is performed. When the tumor grows into the surrounding tissue, complete resection is performed, down to the bones of the lower jaw.
Radiation therapy . The tumor is irradiated with X-rays. Radiotherapy is carried out before and after surgery.
Polychemotherapy . A method of treating advanced forms of the disease, used in the presence of distant metastases. Drugs – Cisplatin, Methotrexate.

Surgery

Radio rays

Polychemotherapy

Attention! One of the main differences between malignant and benign neoplasms is that cancerous tumors are very dense. They rise somewhat above the mucous membrane and have an uneven surface.

Survival prognosis

Each type of cancer has its own prognosis, but it can be roughly represented as follows:

If a cancerous tumor is detected at the first or second stage, the survival rate is 75 percent
If a cancerous tumor is detected at the third stage, the survival rate is 50 percent
When a cancerous tumor is detected at the fourth stage, the survival prognosis is less than 30 percent. It should be noted that a period of time equal to five years is taken.

Those who promptly consult a doctor for medical help have every chance of recovery, since the earlier tongue cancer was detected, the easier it will be to cure.

Tongue cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases that develops rapidly. That is why, if you detect at least a few symptoms indicating cancer, you should not immediately contact a specialist in order to avoid the possible transition of the disease to the most severe stage.

Treatment methods

Drug therapy is carried out at the initial stage of the formation of papillomas in the mouth. All other growths are removed surgically. Folk remedies will help strengthen the body's defenses, prevent the growth of formations and the development of complications.

Until complete removal of growths from the diet, you need to exclude hard, sour, spicy, salty, hot and cold foods.

Medicines

The choice of medications depends on the type of growth, the cause of its appearance, the general condition and age of the patient.

How to treat growths:

Antiviral ointments and tablets - Acyclovir, Panavir, Altabor. Prescribed for papillomas to suppress HPV activity.

Acyclovir

Panavir

Altabor

Solutions for injections – Ferrovir, Immunomax, Cycloferon. More effective against HPV than pills.

Ferrovir

Immunomax

Cycloferon

Rectal suppositories with antiviral and immunostimulating effects - Galavit, Kipferon, Genferon.

Galavit

Kipferon

Genferon

Immunomodulators – Likopid, Neovir.

Lycopid

Neovir

Local antiseptics – Chlorhexidine, Chlorophyllipt. Eliminate inflammation, bleeding, prevent the spread of infection.

Chlorophyllipt

Vitamin A oil solution – prevents tumor growth. Treat the growth daily.

Vitamin A

Vitamin complexes – Supradin, Complivit, Ascorutin.

Supradin

Complivit

Askorutin

If growths are detected during pregnancy, immunostimulating drugs - Viferon, Reaferon. Safe immunomodulators for children - Amiksin, Viferon.

Viferon Reaferon Amiksin

Folk remedies

Non-traditional methods will not help cope with growths on the tongue.
But folk remedies have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic effects and help strengthen the immune system. They can be used to enhance the therapeutic effect of drugs. When removing growths surgically, folk remedies are not used.

Recipes:

Pour 500 ml of boiling water over 20 g of dry plantain leaves and leave in a sealed container for 15 minutes. Drink the strained infusion 100 ml twice a day. The duration of treatment is 10 days. The product increases the body's resistance to viruses.
Grind the peeled pink potatoes and squeeze the juice through cheesecloth. Drink 100 ml before breakfast. Duration of treatment – 3 weeks. The drink has a pronounced immunostimulating effect.
Pour 500 ml boiling water 1 tbsp. l. dry chamomile or calendula inflorescences, leave for an hour. Use the strained infusion to rinse your mouth twice a day for 10 days. This remedy is a natural antiseptic and accelerates the healing process of damaged tissue.
Mix 4 parts hemp oil with 1 part honey. Treat the growths with the mixture 5 times a day.
Lubricate the new growths 2-3 times a day with fresh juice of sour apples.
Treat the growths with raw chicken protein. Apply every 15 minutes for an hour. Do the procedure three times a day. The duration of treatment is 10 days.
Mix 100 g of chopped beets, 200 g of carrots. Add 1 lemon, twisted in a meat grinder along with the peel, 30 ml of olive oil, 100 g of walnuts. There are 1-2 tbsp. l. in a day. This vitamin complex strengthens the immune system.

Important! It is often recommended to use fresh celandine juice to treat growths on the tongue. This method is dangerous, the plant is poisonous, you can get poisoned. If the juice gets on healthy tissue, it will cause a severe burn. Papillomas in the mouth cannot be cauterized with hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or removed with thread.

Removing growths

There are several methods for removing growths on the tongue. The choice depends on the location of the neoplasm and the presence of contraindications in the person.

Methods for removing growths:

Surgically	Excision of the tumor with a scalpel under local anesthesia. The wound is disinfected, sutured, and the stitches are removed after a few days. The method is affordable, but causes a lot of discomfort during and after the operation. Contraindications: pregnancy and lactation, exacerbation of herpes, acute infectious and inflammatory processes in the body.
Laser	The most popular method of removing growths. The tumor is removed quickly and without pain - the procedure lasts no more than 20 minutes. There is no infection in the wounds, relapses are rarely diagnosed, and the rehabilitation process is short. Laser therapy can be used to remove tumors in children over 2 years of age. Contraindications – tumor size more than 3 cm, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy and breastfeeding, diseases of the circulatory system. Disadvantages: high cost, inability to send tumor tissue for histology.
Cryodestruction	Before the procedure, it is necessary to cure all infectious diseases. The affected area is exposed to liquid nitrogen, which stops the growth of the growth. During the session, the risk of infection and bleeding is reduced to zero. The duration of the procedure is 30 seconds. Cryodestruction is safe for children over 1 year of age. But this method is painful, often scars form at the site of exposure to cold, and it is difficult to control the depth of freezing. The method is not used to remove multiple tumors. After the session, immunity sharply decreases, so after removing the growth you should immediately start taking immunostimulating drugs. Contraindications – epilepsy, convulsions, arterial hypertension, vasospasm, pregnancy and lactation. Cryodestruction is not suitable for removing growths on the uvula and sublingual frenulum.
Electrocoagulation	A special loop is placed on the growth, which transmits electric current deep into the tissue. The tumor is cut off, and the vessels are sealed at the same time, which prevents bleeding. The method is painful, recovery takes a long time. But scars do not form, relapses are rare, and several tumors can be removed at once. After an incorrect procedure, scars may remain.
By radio waves	Non-invasive, bloodless procedure. After removing the growth, tissue samples can be sent for histology. The method is rarely used, since radio waves negatively affect healthy tissue, and relapses often occur. Contraindications: pregnancy and lactation, exacerbation of chronic pathologies, acute forms of infectious diseases, heart disease, diabetes mellitus.
Sclerosis	Used to remove vascular growths. The vessels are cauterized; when the blood supply is cut off, the growth stops growing and developing.
Galvanocaustics	A small growth is cauterized with platinum wire, preheated under the influence of current. The method is fast, without the risk of infection and bleeding.
Ultrasound	Ultrasonic waves of high intensity destroy damaged cells, but do not affect healthy tissue. The method is safe and effective, but has a high cost.

Before any surgical intervention, a complete sanitation of the oral cavity is performed.

How to remove papilloma on the tongue using electrocoagulation:

Treatment prognosis

With timely detection and proper treatment, tumors can be completely eliminated. Problems may arise in older people, people with immunodeficiency conditions, and chronic diseases.

Possible complications

Negative consequences are most often associated with frequent injury to growths.

Why are growths on the tongue dangerous?

abscess;
infectious processes in the oral cavity;
sepsis;
severe intoxication;
tissue necrosis;
frequent relapses;
degeneration into a malignant tumor.

If the cyst ruptures, the tongue may shift, speech, breathing and swallowing may be impaired.

Important! Hemangiomas and lymphangiomas most often recur.

List of sources

Alieva. S.B., Alymov Yu.V., Kropotov M.A., Mudunov A.M., Podvyaznikov S.O. Cancer of the oral mucosa. Oncology. Clinical recommendations / Ed. M. I. Davydova. – M.: Publishing group RONC, 2015, pp. 27-37.
Romanov, I.S. Features of regional metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, detected during preventive lymph node dissections. / Romanov, I.S., Yakovleva L.P., Udintsov D.B., Dzhumaev M.G., Tsiklauri V.T. // Dentistry. – 2012. – T.91, No. 4. — P. 28-31.
Romanov I. S., Yakovleva L. P. Issues in the treatment of oral cancer. Farmateka 2013; (8):59–63.
Paches A.I. Tumors of the head and neck. 5th ed., supplemented and revised M.: Practical Medicine, 2013. P. 119‒146.
Romanov I. S. Prospects for the use of cetuximab in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck / Oncology. Hematology. Chemotherapy. - 2015. - No. 17/1.

Preventive measures

The main methods of prevention are strengthening the immune system and maintaining good hygiene.

How to prevent growths from appearing:

to refuse from bad habits;
exercise regularly, spend more time outdoors;
avoid stressful situations, learn to relax, master meditative techniques;
wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, especially after going outside or visiting the toilet;
Always use only your own towels and personal items;
adjust your diet - give up unhealthy and heavy foods, eat more vegetables and fruits, fermented milk products, cereals, lean meat and fish;
observe the drinking regime - you need to drink 1.5-2 liters of clean still water per day;
promptly identify and treat dental diseases and pathologies of internal organs.

An effective method for preventing the formation of papillomas on the tongue is HPV vaccination. The Cervarix and Gardasil vaccines have contraindications and side effects, so they are not suitable for everyone. Vaccination does not completely protect against infection, but it does promote the production of antibodies that help the body fight infection more quickly.

It is advisable to vaccinate up to 26 years of age. The protective effect is designed for 8 years. Contraindications: pregnancy and breastfeeding, any gum problems.

Forecast

With early diagnosis and radical treatment, the prognosis for recovery from tongue cancer is more favorable. It is believed that complete recovery from cancer is impossible and the goal of treatment is to achieve long-term remission of 5-8 years. Thus, with this pathology, the five-year survival rate ranges from 65 to 85%. Complete remission within 5 years after surgery and radiation therapy with T1 is achieved in 80% of patients, with T2 in 60% of patients, and with T3-4 does not exceed 35%. Metastases in the lymph nodes are an important prognostic factor and, if present, survival rate is halved.

How long do people live with stage 4 tongue cancer or with relapse after chemotherapy? Such patients have a poor prognosis: they live no more than 3.5 months while on maintenance treatment. The addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy increases survival by 2 times.