Tonsil Cancer

Diagnosis

To help determine the best treatment options, the Mayo Clinic multispecialty treatment team uses the latest diagnostic techniques to identify the type of cells that make up the tumor and how far it has progressed.

Medical History

A first step toward diagnosing tonsil cancer is an in-depth interview with the patient. During the interview, the physician records details about the patient's symptoms and when they first appeared.

Physical Examination

Once the physician has the patient's medical history, the next step is a physical examination. The physician will feel the head and neck for lumps, swelling, and areas where the patient reports pain. The physician will also use a mirror or a small, flexible, fiber-optic instrument to examine the tonsils and surrounding tissue.

Imaging Studies

Specialists at Mayo Clinic use high-resolution imaging studies to diagnose tonsil cancer. These studies may include:

• X-rays generate a one-dimensional view of the head and neck or chest to help physicians locate abnormalities in the tonsils and determine whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
• Computed tomography (CT) scans generate two-dimensional images of the head and neck that may reveal whether cancer has invaded other tissues or organs. New technology available at Mayo Clinic enables three-dimensional reconstruction of the CT images.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create two- and three-dimensional views to identify small abnormalities in the head and neck. MRI scans can identify abnormalities in soft tissue and can help determine if cancer has spread to other organs.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) technology uses radioactive materials to identify metabolically active tissues, such as cancer in the tonsils, lymph nodes, or other organs.

Biopsy

Before planning or recommending treatment, physicians at Mayo Clinic often perform fine-needle aspiration to gather a small sample of cells (biopsy) from the tonsil. Oral pathologists examine the tissue under a microscope to determine the kind of cancer cells involved. Infrequently pathologists classify the condition as a sarcoma or lymphoma. Most often, however, the cancer tissue is classified as squamous cell carcinoma.