carcinoma of floor of mouth
Last reviewed 01/2018
Most lesions are squamous cell carcinomas. They tend to present late by which time invasion of the mandible has usually occurred.
Common symptoms are dysphagia and odynophagia. Referred otalgia is not uncommon.
Management includes:
- CT - to assess extent of bone erosion of mandible
- biopsy - to confirm diagnosis
- surgical excision and radical neck dissection with reconstruction of the soft tissue defect and, possibly, the mandible
Radiotherapy is not usually performed as primary treatment as later excision of bone will compromise the vascular integrity of the irradiated bone and carries a high risk of osteoradionecrosis.