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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
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Dental and Oral Health (Adults) |
Swelling underneath tongue05/11/2007 |
I have been an snuff user for 8 years about 1/2 can a day. Lately i have had some swelling in the two viens that run front to back on each side underneath my tongue. They dont really hurt, but they are worrying me, because they change from bigger to smaller depending on how much I chew that day. Could this be cancer or just inflamation from the tabacco. I also am wondering if it could be cancer would the swelling be on both sides, it is somewhat symetical, but the right side usually is a little bigger. Is it very common that snuff use would lead to cancer underneath the tongue. I would think it would mostly affect the area where the tabacco is placed. Any info would be appreciated.
What you are describing does not sound as if it would be a characteristic pattern of oral cancer. I can't explain the changes that you are seeing related to your sublingual veins (the veins that run underneath the tongue), and I'm not aware of any description of these changes in the dental/medical literature.
You are correct in assuming that the cases of oral cancer that have been reported in association with smokeless tobacco use have been in the area where the tobacco is held. These patients have generally used a product known as "dry snuff", which is popular among older women in the deep South.
Large population studies looking at people who used the much more popular moist snuff have almost always shown no apparent increase in the oral cancer rate compared to people who have never used any tobacco products. However, 20% of people who develop oral cancer (usually on one side of the tongue) have not used tobacco in any form, so even if the risk of oral cancer is minimal when using moist snuff, that doesn't mean that you can't develop oral cancer.
If you need a more definitive answer, you should be seen by an oral pathologist.
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Carl M. Allen, DDS, MSD Professor & Director, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology Dental Faculty Practice Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology College of Dentistry The Ohio State University |
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