Types of mouth and oropharyngeal cancers
The type of cancer tells you what type of cell the cancer started in.
Most mouth and oropharyngeal cancers start in squamous cells and are called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Other types of mouth and oropharyngeal cancers include:
-
salivary gland cancer, including adenoid cystic tumours
-
basal cell carcinoma
-
lymphoma
-
melanoma
-
sarcoma
Sometimes, patches in the mouth contain abnormal cells that can turn into cancer if left untreated. These patches are described as pre cancerous.
Non cancerous growths in the mouth and oropharynx
A growth or t
is not always a cancer. Non cancerous growths are called benign.
The main difference between a cancer and a benign tumour is that a cancer can spread, while a benign tumour does not. Some mouth and oropharyngeal tumours are benign and so don't spread to other parts of the body.
Squamous cell cancers of the mouth and oropharynx
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is cancer starting in the squamous cells. These are the flat, skin like cells covering the inside of the mouth, nose, larynx and throat. Carcinoma means cancer.
More than 90 out of 100 (more than 90%) of all mouth and oropharyngeal cancers are SCC.
Verrucous carcinoma
This is a type of squamous cell carcinoma. It rarely spreads to other body parts but can grow very deeply into surrounding tissues.
Other types of mouth and oropharyngeal cancer
Other types of mouth and oropharyngeal cancer include the following:
Salivary gland cancer
There are minor salivary glands throughout the lining of the mouth and oropharynx. It is more common for a lump in this area to be non cancerous (benign). But cancers can develop in these glands.
The salivary glands are made up of a number of different types of cells. Acinic cells make and release saliva. Mucoepidermoid cells line the gland. Mucoepidermoid carcinomas are the most common type of salivary gland cancer.
Most salivary gland start in the parotid glands. Around 25 out of every 100 (around 25%) of these are cancer (malignant). Around 45 out of every 100 (around 45%) of tumours in the submandibular glands are cancer. Cancer can also start in the sublingual glands or the minor glands.
Adenoid cystic tumour
This is a rare type of tumour and can develop from glandular tissue in the salivary glands or the mouth. The parotid gland is the most common place to find this type of cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
This is a type of skin cancer that develops from basal cells and can be found on the lips.
BCC is the most common type of skin cancer. Between 75 and 80 out of every 100 (between 75 and 80%) non melanoma skin cancers are BCCs. They are usually treated by surgery. The outlook for this cancer type is very good.
Lymphoma
Lymphomas are cancers that start from cells in the lymphatic system. The base of the tongue and tonsils are made up of lymph tissue that can develop into cancer. There are also many lymph nodes in the neck.
Painless swelling of a lymph node is the most common sign of lymphoma. Treatment for lymphoma will be different to treatment for mouth or oropharyngeal cancer.
Melanoma
Melanoma develops from the pigment producing cells that give skin its colour. It is not a very common type of mouth or oropharyngeal cancer. Between 1 and 2 out of every 100 (between 1 and 2%) of mouth cancers are melanomas.
Melanomas of the head and neck can occur anywhere on the skin or inside the nose or mouth.
Some treatments for melanomas in the mouth are different to squamous cell cancers. You can read about melanoma treatment in the melanoma section.
Sarcoma
Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers that develop in the connective and supporting tissues of the body. These include bone and muscle. Although it is not very common sarcomas can develop in the mouth and the tongue.
More information
To decide what treatment you need your doctor looks at the type, grade and stage of your cancer.
