Tongue Base Cancer

Diagnosis

As the first step to diagnosing tongue base cancer, a Mayo Clinic physician will meet with the patient to discuss the symptoms and history of the condition. After a thorough medical history has been gathered, a physician will conduct a physical examination and may remove a small sample of the cancer to send to the laboratory for analysis. Pathologists experienced in identifying oral conditions will examine the tissue under a microscope.

Patients may also need to undergo imaging studies to see how far the cancer has spread. These may include:

• X-rays generate a one-dimensional view of the head and neck to help physicians locate abnormalities in the tongue and other structures of the mouth.
• CT scans generate two-dimensional images of the head and neck that may reveal whether cancer has invaded nearby lymph nodes or other organs. Newer technology at Mayo Clinic allows for three-dimensional reconstruction of CT images.
• MRI technology uses magnetic fields and radio waves to identify small abnormalities in the head and neck (three-dimensional views) and to determine if cancer has spread to other organs.
• PET scans utilize radioactive materials to identify metabolically active tissues, such as cancer in the tongue, in lymph nodes and other organs of the body such as the lungs, liver or bones.