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What Does A Lump Inside Upper Lip Indicate?
Question: Hi. I'm a 53 yr. Old female. I have a small lump inside my mouth, inside my upper lip way up by my teeth. I've had it for about a month - I noticed it when I was on vacation in late Oct. and I got a bunch of sores (I think from eating pineapple). I noticed the lump about the same time, but it hasn't gone away like the sores have, and it hasn't turned into a sore or progressed in any way. IM now concerned about mouth cancer. I don't smoke anymore, but did off and on smoke a little for about 20'yrs. until I quit about 15 yrs. ago. I never smoked more than about 5 cigarettes a day, though when I quit I chewed Nicorette gum for a really long time. I never drink more than a couple of glasses of wine per week. When I put 'lump in mouth' in symptom checker, nothing really comes up except mouth cancer, so now I'm concerned. I have a dentist appt. mid-December. Should I move it up? Find a different kind of doctor for this? Not sure next steps?
Looked in my mouth and I don't seem to have any white patches, but note that I did have a squamous skin cancer once. It's now gone...could that put me at higher risk? Don't want to panic here but kind of worried...
Looked in my mouth and I don't seem to have any white patches, but note that I did have a squamous skin cancer once. It's now gone...could that put me at higher risk? Don't want to panic here but kind of worried...
Brief Answer:
incisional biopsy
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I have gone through through your history.
Since you are having a small lump inside your mouth inside your upper lip way by your teeth for a month i would advise you to do a incisional biopsy of that region to rule out malignancy.
Biopsies may be obtained using surgical scalpels or biopsy punches and typically can be performed under local anesthesia.
Since you had squamous skin cancer once your are at higher risk.
I will also advise you to do an MRI of head and nek region.
You need to vist a head and neck surgical Oncologist.
Regards
DR DE
incisional biopsy
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I have gone through through your history.
Since you are having a small lump inside your mouth inside your upper lip way by your teeth for a month i would advise you to do a incisional biopsy of that region to rule out malignancy.
Biopsies may be obtained using surgical scalpels or biopsy punches and typically can be performed under local anesthesia.
Since you had squamous skin cancer once your are at higher risk.
I will also advise you to do an MRI of head and nek region.
You need to vist a head and neck surgical Oncologist.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks for your response. I'm now very concerned, of course. How likely is this to be a malignant tumor, as opposed to something benign?
Brief Answer:
60% chance of malignancy
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Mouth cancer generally presents with persistent red or white patch nonhealing ulcer, progressive swelling or enlargement unusual surface changes, sudden tooth mobility without apparent cause and unusual oral bleeding or epistaxis.
Since you are over 40 years of age you should be considered at a higher risk for oral cancer.
As your complaints is lasting longer than 4 weeks there is 60 % person chance of it being a malignant tumour as opposed to something benign and a biopsy should be performed without delay.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Regards
DR DE
60% chance of malignancy
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Mouth cancer generally presents with persistent red or white patch nonhealing ulcer, progressive swelling or enlargement unusual surface changes, sudden tooth mobility without apparent cause and unusual oral bleeding or epistaxis.
Since you are over 40 years of age you should be considered at a higher risk for oral cancer.
As your complaints is lasting longer than 4 weeks there is 60 % person chance of it being a malignant tumour as opposed to something benign and a biopsy should be performed without delay.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Regards
DR DE
Note: Find out which dental treatment will work best for your teeth. Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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