Tongue cancer - carcinoma of the tongue

Japanese: 舌癌 - ぜつがん（英語表記）carcinoma of the tongue

This is a carcinoma that occurs in the tongue, and is the most common type of oral cancer. It generally refers to cancer that occurs in the front two-thirds of the tongue, and cancer that occurs in the back part that cannot be seen from inside the mouth is called base of tongue cancer. It is more common in middle-aged people and older, and men are about twice as likely to develop it as women. Most of the cancers occur on the lateral edge. Chronic irritation from ill-fitting dentures or fillings, or sharp edges of caries (cavities) can be triggers. Many have ulcers and hard areas surrounding them, but some grow into mushroom-like bumps. If it spreads to the surrounding area, it invades the floor of the mouth and the mandible. Cancer cells often metastasize to lymph nodes in the submandibular region or neck via lymphatic vessels, and also to distant sites such as the lungs and liver via the bloodstream. Treatment involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and anticancer drugs, and neck dissection is performed for lymph node metastasis. Prognosis is poor when distant metastasis is present. Base of tongue cancer is often discovered late and is difficult to treat.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

舌に発生する癌腫をいい，口腔癌のなかで最も多い。一般に舌の前方 3分の2の部分に生じるものをさし，その奥の，口腔内から見えない部分のものは特に舌根部癌という。中年以上に多く，男性は女性の約 2倍である。ほとんどが側縁部に発生する。不適合な義歯や充填物，う蝕（虫歯）の鋭い辺縁などによる慢性の刺激が誘因となる場合がある。潰瘍と，それを取巻く堤防状の硬い部分があるものが多いが，きのこ状に盛上がるものもある。周囲に広がると，口腔底や下顎骨に侵入する。しばしば癌細胞がリンパ管を伝わって顎下部や頸部のリンパ節に転移し，また，血液中を流れて肺や肝臓に遠隔転移する。治療は，手術，放射線照射，制癌剤を併用して行い，リンパ節転移には頸部郭清術を行う。遠隔転移のある場合は予後が悪い。舌根部癌は発見が遅れやすく，治療も困難である。

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