Can oral cancer HPV be detected through testing?

Written by Liu Ping
Oncology
Updated on September 12, 2024
00:00
00:00

Oral cancer can generally be detected through HPV testing. For tumors in our head and neck regions, it is currently believed that the HPV positivity rate is relatively higher in tumors occurring in the oropharynx and hypopharynx areas. There are several methods for HPV testing: one is testing the HPV virus itself, and another is testing for the P16 protein. Therefore, detection can be carried out through throat swabs, saliva, and bodily fluids, which can identify the virus and determine which types are high-risk and which are subtypes, and then look at the P16 protein to see if there are pathological tissues, detecting the negativity or positivity of this P16 protein through pathological tissues.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
45sec home-news-image

What foods are good to eat for oral cancer?

Patients with oral cancer should pay special attention to their diet to ensure they are providing their body with added nutrition. Consuming milk, chicken soup, fish soup, and porridge can help supplement nutrients. Additionally, consuming more vitamins by eating fruits and vegetables can enhance the patient's resistance. If the diet is further complemented with high-protein, high-vitamin, high-calorie, and low-fat foods, it can facilitate a quicker recovery. During the treatment of oral cancer, besides taking medications, patients should also be mindful of their diet and maintain a positive and optimistic outlook, which can greatly assist in the treatment of the disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
54sec home-news-image

Oral cancer is caused by what?

Oral cancer poses a significant threat to human life, and it is important to pay attention to early oral diseases to achieve the goal of early detection and treatment. There are many causes of oral cancer, mainly including the following points: The first is the patient's poor dietary habits, such as long-term alcohol abuse and smoking. Eating hard foods frequently can also cause chronic inflammation. Moreover, neglecting oral hygiene and not having the habit of brushing teeth morning and night can lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi, causing inflammation in the mouth, which can induce oral cancer. Another cause is prolonged irritation of the oral mucosa by inflamed gums, the roots of teeth, and unsuitable dentures, which can produce chronic ulcers and carcinogenesis. A deficiency in vitamin A is also somewhat related to the development of oral cancer.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
37sec home-news-image

Can oral cancer be treated?

Oral cancer poses a significant threat to human life, and it is crucial to detect and treat it early for optimal outcomes. Individuals over the age of 40, especially those frequently experiencing oral ulcers, particularly with symptoms of bleeding and pain, or when there is a growth at the base of the ulcer, should immediately seek hospital examination for timely pathological diagnosis. Early detection followed by prompt surgery, and deciding whether further radiotherapy or chemotherapy is needed based on the severity of the condition, can achieve the best treatment results. Therefore, oral cancer is treatable and can be cured if detected early.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
59sec home-news-image

Can oral cancer patients drink alcohol?

Patients who have been definitively diagnosed with oral cancer are best advised not to consume alcohol, which can be classified into the following situations: First, patients in whom oral cancer is discovered late and who are unable to undergo curative surgery still have cancerous lesions present. The vasculature of the tumor surface is relatively fragile, and drinking alcohol can cause damage to the local mucosa, leading to significant pain and even bleeding. Second, patients who have been diagnosed early with oral cancer and have undergone surgery will have scar tissue formation locally. Drinking alcohol can cause further damage to the mucosa and even irritate the scars. Third, patients who receive radiation therapy for oral cancer have normal oral mucosa that is already susceptible to radiation damage. Drinking alcohol at this time can exacerbate this type of radiation-induced mucosal damage.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
38sec home-news-image

Can oral cancer be detected by a CT scan?

Oral cancer cannot be detected through a CT scan. Oral CT, also known as cone beam CT (CBCT), is referred to by dentists as CBCT. This type of scan is more effective for assessing hard tissues. If one wants to examine soft tissues, the results are not as good. CT scans are only effective for observing the teeth and jawbone within the mouth, and can only identify the presence of a tumor, but cannot differentiate between benign and malignant tumors. Therefore, oral cancer cannot be detected using this method.