The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer. There can be signs that indicate you have the beginning of a pathological process or cancerous growth.

• A sore that fails to heal or bleeds easily
• Reddish patches (erythoplasia) or white patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth
• A lump or skin thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness and difficulty chewing or swallowing

Some of the places that you might find changes are on your lips, gums, cheeks, palate, tongue, face and neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology, so if you find something that is suspicious, please do not ignore it.

Biopsy: A biopsy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a piece of tissue sample.

Excisional Biopsy: A small lesion is totally excised. This method is preferred if the lesions are approximately 1 cm or less in diameter.

Incisional Biopsy: A small portion of the tissue is removed from an abnormal looking area for examination.