Lingual malignancies. Improving early detection and diagnosis

Malignancies affecting the tongue are usually in an advanced stage when they are first diagnosed. To recognize these lesions at the earliest possible time and to arrive at an accurate differential diagnosis, the clinician needs an awareness of the clinical features, location, and behavior of the malignant neoplasms that can occur in the lingual mucosa. Routine performance of a careful visual and tactile examination of the tongue, especially in patients identified as being at high risk, improves the chances for early and accurate diagnosis.