World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ONCOGENICITY OF TOBACCO-SMOKING: A REVIEW ON SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE TONGUE, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Onengiyeofori Ibama* and Felix Eedee Konne

ABSTRACT

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue is the commonest type of tongue cancer affecting young smokers and older men (over 45 years of age) than women. It represents more than ninety percent of all head and neck cancers, and occurs mainly in the lateral posterior border that may extend to the dorsum of the tongue. The major risk factors for SCC of the tongue are tobacco-smoking (to a greater extent) and frequent consumption of large amounts of alcohol (to a smaller extent). Minor risk factors for SCC of the tongue include irritation induced by chewing tobacco, dental caries, overuse of mouthwash, chewing betel nut and oral human papillomavirus (HPV) acquired via genito-oral route. The early stages of SCC of the tongue are usually asymptomatic, but later stages may present as lesions that appear as areas of erythroplakia or leukoplakia, with ulceration and pain usually at the base of the tongue, and consequently a lump or an induration on the tongue. Diagnosis of SCC of the tongue involves taking a medical history and physical examination of the tongue for unhealed ulcers and nearby lymph nodes for swelling. If SCC of the tongue is suspected, a biopsy of affected areas of the tongue is made, followed by processing of the biopsied tissue and preparation of smears on clean grease-free glass slides. Finally, the smears are stained with the „„Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) stain??, and then examined under the microscope. The presence of intense pleomorphism, nuclear hyperchromatism, increased nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, and increased proliferation of epithelial cells is diagnostic of SCC of the tongue. Treatment of this disease involves glossectomy, with postoperative radiation or chemo-radiation. It is not new that tobacco-smoking via cigarettes and shishas, as well as regular consumption of large volumes of alcohol among the elderly and especially young people is rapidly on the increase. Thus, this review was aimed at discussing the consequence of tobacco-smoking with focus on Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue, its diagnosis and treatment. It is therefore highly recommended that tobacco-smoking, as well as chronic consumption of alcohol be avoided, and that these artisans (smokers and alcoholics) should get themselves examined medically.

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