Neoplasm is the abnormal growth that develops which can either be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). The malignant tumors are the cancerous growth that has the potential to spread to other parts of the body. The benign tumors are the noncancerous growths that do not spread to other parts of the body and is usually not considered to be life-threatening.
Benign tumors of oral cavity
There are several types of benign oral cavity tumors such as hyperplasias, papillomas, pleomorphic adenoma, soft tissue tumors and benign odontogenic tumors and cysts.
Hyperplasia is defined by the increase in the number of normal cells which can develop as the result of irritation or injury to oral cavity tissue. Fibroma is a round, firm lump that can occur anywhere in the oral cavity and pyogenic granuloma is the reddish growth that forms on the gums.
Papillomas develop in the epithelial cells that line the surface of the oral cavity which can present as wart-like growths which are often associated with human papillomavirus.
Pleomorphic adenoma can develop from the minor or major salivary glands which are slow growing, painless masses.
Soft tissue tumors can develop in the lining of the mouth such as the blood vessels which includes lymphangioma that is made up of enlarged lymphatic vessels, neurofibroma that begins in nerve tissue and granular cell tumor that occurs as firm lump starting in the nerve cells.
Benign odontogenic tumors and cysts occur in the jaw bones developing from the tooth-forming tissues which may be the result of abnormal development of jaw bone.
Oral cancer
This is the tumor that can develop on the surface of the tongue, roof of the mouth, the lips, gums or the inside of the cheeks. There are various types of mouth cancer that are based on the cell cancer develops in. The squamous cell carcinoma is the common form of mouth cancer while the less common types include adenocarcinomas, sarcomas, oral malignant melanomas and lymphomas. The adenocarcinomas develop inside the salivary glands, the sarcomas grow from the abnormal bone, cartilage or muscles, oral malignant melanomas occur in the cells that produce skin pigment and lymphomas grow from the cells found in lymph glands. Some of the common symptoms of mouth cancer include sore mouth ulcers that do not heal, presence of unexplained lumps in the mouth or the neck that doesn’t go away, persistent numbness on the lip or tongue, changes in speech and looseness of teeth or sockets that doesn’t heal. The risk factors associated with developing oral cancer includes infection with the human papilloma virus, excess alcohol consumption and heavy smoking. The treatment option includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In some cases, the treatment is used in combination to prevent cancer from returning.
References
http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/oral/oral-cancer/benign-tumours/?region=on
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cancer-of-the-mouth/Pages/Introduction.aspx#Types
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/OralCancer/AfricanAmericanMen/CausesSymptoms.htm
