Can oral cancer be detected by a CT scan?

Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

Updated on September 16, 2024

00:00

00:00

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.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Cui Fang Bo

Oncology

51sec

home-news-image

Does oral cancer cause an increase in carcinoembryonic antigen?

When oral cancer occurs, there is a possibility that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels may be elevated. Among the current mainstream tumor markers, CEA is the most broadly applicable. Elevated levels of CEA can occur in a variety of tumors. However, an increase in CEA does not necessarily mean that oral cancer is present. Due to the relatively superficial location of the oral cavity, specific physical examinations of the mouth, or direct visualization of the inside of the mouth using auxiliary instruments, can be used to detect lesions associated with oral cancer. Once oral cancer is diagnosed, the primary treatments are surgery and radiotherapy. After surgery and radiotherapy, adjunctive chemotherapy can be used to improve treatment efficacy.

home-news-image

Written by Wang Ji Zhong

Internal Medicine

47sec

home-news-image

Do people with oral cancer experience weight loss?

Oral cancer is a serious threat to human life among oral diseases, and its early symptoms are not particularly obvious, so it is necessary to remind people to pay attention. In addition to some local ulcers, patients with oral cancer have neoplastic cancer tissue growing at the ulcer base. The cancer tissue will develop and damage the masseter and chewing muscles, and it will also cause dysphagia and speech disorders, as well as lead to lymph node metastasis. As cancer cells grow and develop rapidly, they consume a large amount of the body's energy, so patients with oral cancer will experience significant weight loss in the later stages. At this time, in addition to cancer treatment, supportive symptomatic treatment is also needed to enhance the body's resistance.

home-news-image

Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

36sec

home-news-image

Oral cancer is prone to metastasize to locations

If you have oral cancer, the most likely place for it to spread is the throat. The mouth is connected to the throat, and cancer cells in the mouth grow very quickly. These cancer cells also have a high tendency to spread. If left unchecked over time, there is a possibility that they will spread throughout the body. Moreover, since the mouth and throat are so close to each other, the throat is the most likely first place to be affected. If a patient discovers they have oral cancer, they should seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent the condition from spreading.

home-news-image

Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

1min

home-news-image

How should cervical lymph node metastasis of oral cancer be treated?

Patients with lymph nodes, if they experience short-term lymph node enlargement. It could potentially be a symptom of metastatic cancer of the lymph nodes, typically manifested in cancers of the nose, pharynx, lung, and esophagus. If the condition is severe, it may cause pain. If the disease spreads to the ear, a comprehensive examination of the patient is still necessary to find the root of the disease. Once the patient's disease begins to metastasize, it indicates that the cancer has reached an advanced stage, and it is recommended that the patient undergo comprehensive treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. If it is non-small cell lung cancer, targeted drug therapy is recommended, but it is generally advised to perform a targeted drug test in advance. If the mutation allows, it is permissible to take the medication; if there is no mutation, it is better not to use it.

home-news-image

Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

38sec

home-news-image

Can oral cancer be transmitted through saliva?

Oral cancer, unlike some other cancers, cannot be transmitted to others through bacteria or pathogens via saliva or other means. Thus, oral cancer is not contagious. The cancer cells in oral cancer can only metastasize within the individual themselves, causing proliferation and spreading of the disease. Therefore, even if it leads to cancer in other parts of the body, it is not transmissible to others. Based on these symptoms, living or sharing meals with someone suffering from oral cancer does not pose a risk of contagion through saliva.