ENT: Oral Cancer: Free MSRA Podcast

🎙️ FREE MSRA PODCAST: Oral Cancer🦷 A high-yield breakdown of this key ENT topic – crucial for the MSRA exam and clinical practice.🧠 Key Learning Points📌 Definition• Malignant tumour of the oral cavity – most commonly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)• Most frequent sites: lateral tongue and floor of mouth📌 Causes & Risk Factors• Tobacco (smoking or chewing)• Heavy alcohol use• HPV-16 infection (especially oropharyngeal cancers)• Poor oral hygiene, chronic irritation (e.g. ill-fitting dentures)• Betel nut chewing• Sun exposure (lip cancers), radiation, age, occupational exposure• Prior SCC = ↑ risk (field cancerisation)• Pre-malignant lesions:→ Leukoplakia (white patch)→ Erythroplakia (red patch – higher malignancy risk)📌 Pathophysiology• Chronic exposure → DNA damage in squamous cells• Leads to uncontrolled growth, local invasion, and metastasis (often to cervical lymph nodes)📌 Epidemiology• UK: ~8,800 cases/year• Lifetime risk: 1 in 55 men, 1 in 108 women• 80% of cases in people >55• 📈 UK incidence ↑ by 1/3 in past decade• HPV-related cases rising in younger patients📌 Clinical Features• Non-healing ulcer >3 weeks• Persistent lump, red/white patch• Dysphagia, hoarseness, sore throat, numbness, weight loss• May first present as neck lump (especially in tonsillar cancers)📌 Differential Diagnosis• Mouth ulcers• Thrush (oral candidiasis)• Oral lichen planus• Leukoplakia/erythroplakia• Traumatic injury• Other benign or malignant oral lesions📌 Investigations• Biopsy = diagnostic gold standard• Imaging: CT, MRI, PET → TNM staging• T stage = tumour size & depth→ T1 = ≤2 cm and <5 mm deep→ T2 = deeper or larger→ T3 = ≥4 cm or ≥10 mm deep📌 Referral Criteria (2WW)• Unexplained ulcer >3 weeks• Persistent neck lump• Suspicious lump, erythroplakia, leukoplakia (via dentist or GP)📌 Management• Multidisciplinary team (MDT) essential• Surgery = mainstay (e.g. block resection, neck dissection, flap reconstruction)• Radiotherapy (external or brachytherapy)• Chemotherapy – often as part of chemo-radiotherapy• Early cancers: surgery +/- radiotherapy• Advanced cancers: multimodal therapy• Speech/swallowing rehab, dental care, and psychological support crucial📌 Prognosis & Complications• Early detection = better outcome• Late-stage disease = ↓ survival• Complications: swallowing/speech issues, appearance changes, nutritional impact, dental damage, psychological effects• Palliative care for inoperable/metastatic cases📌 Prevention• Stop smoking 🚭• Limit alcohol• Regular dental check-ups 🦷• Good oral hygiene• HPV vaccination 💉📎 Oral Cancer MSRA Resources📖 Notes: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/oral-cancer-revision-notes/🧠 Flashcards: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/oral-cancer-flashcards/💬 Q&A: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/oral-cancer-accordion-qa-notes/🚀 Quiz: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/oral-cancer-rapid-quiz/🎓 Full ENT Course: https://www.passthemsra.com/courses/ent-for-the-msra/📝 Quiz Bank: https://www.passthemsra.com/quizzes/oral-cancer/🔖 Hashtags#MSRA #MSRARevision #MSRATextbook #MSRAQuiz #MSRAQuestionBank #MSRAFlashcards #MSRAQANotes #MSRAAccordions #MSRAENT #OralCancer #PassTheMSRA