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. The following is a list of changes that may represent the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:

Reddish patches (erythoplasia) Whitish patches (leukoplakia) A sore that fail to heal and bleeds easily A lump or thickening on the skin lining inside of the mouth Chronic sore throat or hoarseness Difficulty chewing or swallowing

When an abnormality is discovered, a referral is often made to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Often, he or she will feel a biopsy is necessary for a complete and accurate diagnosis.

Biopsy Procedure
A biopsy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a piece of suspicious tissue; usually part of the lining tissue (mucosa) of the mouth or the underlying bone that has demonstrated possible involvement through the examination process. Fortunately, most biopsies can be carried out in the office setting with local anesthesia.

The harvested piece of tissue, or specimen, is sent to a pathology laboratory for examination where the tissue is handled by a qualified specialist in oral pathology. They will process the tissue and examine the specimen under a microscope. After the examination is complete, the pathologist will send a report to your surgeon for review.

The report helps establish a diagnosis as well as enabling your surgeon to develop a treatment plan that addresses the type of lesion that was identified. Small lesions may have been removed in their entirety during the biopsy while the larger lesions may have had only a small portion removed, thereby, necessitating further surgery.