Oral tumors in children: Diagnosis and management

Oral tumors are one of important tumors which could be associated with serious problems in infant and children. It has been showed that a variety of cellular and molecular pathways including genetics and epigenetics mechanisms (eg, chromosomal alterations, and microRNA) involved in pathogenesis events present in oral tumors. Identification of these pathways could contribute to better treatment of oral tumor patients. Early detection is one of key steps in management of oral tumors which could contribute to improve clinical outcomes and better treatment of infant with oral tumors. Despite of easy accession of the oral cavity, oral tumors (malign/benign) are diagnosed in advance stages. Therefore, these tumors indicate a poor survival rate. It has been showed that various approaches including imaging techniques, chemical, genetics, and epigenetic biomarkers could have critical roles in early detection of oral tumors. Treatment of oral tumors is associated with employing of various therapeutic approaches including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Data on effective diagnostic platforms and therapeutic approaches for oral tumors in children and infant are rare. We offer that a variety of biomarkers such as microRNAs which could be used for oral tumors in adults may be good candidates for early detection of oral tumors in children. Here, we summarized various aspects of oral tumors in children such as molecular pathways, diagnosis, and management of them.