Oral cancer red flags – a case of misdiagnosis

Abstract

The clinical presentations of oral malignancy are diverse. This short article discusses a case of a late-presenting oral malignancy and signifies the importance of general dental and medical practitioners’ knowledge in the diagnosis of oral malignancy. Clinical relevance: Oral malignancy is a life-threatening diagnosis. The importance of a structured systematic approach in the diagnosis is discussed.

Mouth cancer: Extending the RULE

“…1 Five days later, the General Medical Council (GMC) began its consultation on changes to transform the online medical register (also known as the List of Registered Medical Practitioners). 2 As well as publishing mandatory information, such as a doctor's name, qualifications, gender and licence status, the GMC is consulting on adding voluntary information that doctors could choose to add to the register to make it more useful for them and their patients.…”

“…However, it has become increasingly evident over the past few years that benzydamine can be misused as a psychoactive agent for recreational purposes (https:// psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Benzydamine). In high doses, such abuse has been reported especially in Eastern Europeans (particularly in some Polish, Romanian and Turkish peoples), 2 and in Latin Americans (mainly some Brazilians). 3,4 There are as yet, few data on any other (such as physical) adverse effects.…”

“…1 However, cancer can have other and multifarious presentations and we are also intent on diagnosing any such lesion whether early or more advanced as soon as possible. Other such presentations can include tooth loosening 2 or cervical lymphadenopathy, 3,4 though there can be many other causes for these, so it would seem an improvement to extend the RULE to:…”