Got Body, Jaw, Ear Pain After Flu, Bacteria In Mouth. Done CT Scan With Iodine And X-rays. Mouth Cancer?

Posted on Wed, 20 Jun 2012

Question: Hi good day, I will really appreciate some assistance. About 8 weeks ago I had a really bad flue, sinus. During that period started to get real neck, jaw, shoulder, ear right side, front of ear pain. Went to dentists, then saw to mouth and jaw specialists then to ENT who did a CT Scan with iodine and xrays sinusses and lungs. Swab of mouth and found only a bacteria from my colon in my throat. Was given cataflan D and that really helped although since then I have felt this small rough spot in the inside of my mouth right there where the cheek and the soft palate comes toghether. More to the back behind cheek bone. It has been really irretated although none of the specialists can see anything. There is no color change no growth not been getting bigger. No swelling no bleeding no lumps or bumps. I am really scared this could be cancerous as it is not going away. I went to the second dentists and showed him as well he said he couldnt see anything. but he did notice that my bite was totally wrong and that he is looking into TMJ regarding jaw, neck inflamation. Could you please assist me in what does mouth cancers look like and if I should go to another check up.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (2 hours later)

Hi

Thanks for the query and elaborate history.

After going through the history, it seems to be you are suffering from drug induced mucositis. The drugs taken for the pain and allergy can cause roughness of the buccal mucosa, added to it if there is any sharp tooth which is irritating the mucosa then it can provoke inflammation of the already dried up mucosa. If there is no evidence of any mucosal erosion or swelling, then it could be an early onset of the mucosal inflammation.

Do not worry; it does not appear to be something XXXXXXX or cancerous. Following are the features of early stages of oral cancer:

1. History of tobacco chewing or alcohol consumption with or without smoking or sharp irritating tooth, etc.

2. Symptoms and signs include pain, discoloration, tightness of the buccal mucosa, fleshy growth, etc.

Following are the links showing the photographs of the early cancerous lesions:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=leukoplakia&hl=en&sa=X&nord=1&biw=1366&bih=644&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=RFhvQsFb0Sw6bM:&imgrefurl= WWW.WWWW.WW WWW.WWWW.WW
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=leukoplakia&hl=en&sa=X&nord=1&biw=1366&bih=644&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=mC0M2L71iSaiJM:&imgrefurl= WWW.WWWW.WW html&docid=3AIcfKJicSwSMM&imgurl= WWW.WWWW.WW
I would suggest you to drink plenty of warm water, take plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid long term use of antihistaminic (if using for allergy).

Hope I have answered your query; I will be available for the follow-up queries.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (18 hours later)

Hi Dr. Thank you for the good advice. I would like to say that I took a real good look last night. If I open wide it looks flat and like nothing but when I half of (sorry for the bad explaining) push my tongue where I can feel it and half of pucker up my soft palate I can see a small pimple like wart thing. Almost like the top of a pen. When I push my tonque against it alot it starts to sting little burning sensation. No color change though. Also another question. I still sit with this sensation of fullness and preassure infront of my ear. Dr knows when you open and close your jaw on every opening you can feel like a round ball that moves right where the two jawline's get together. The right side still feels tight, and soft but irretating pains in my right ear and itching in right ear. My neck also feels stiff. This is about exactly the same spot where I have this sensation in the mouth. I want to ask if I have TMJ could it be that the nerves or muscles are damaged and that one could feel it inside the mouth. Or a trigger point or something. My last question is. If there was any cancer in there would one of the previous doctors have picked it up and the scan and the xrays. I know that early detection is best. Can it be that all the doctors have missed it. I would rather keep seeing them then leaving it and ending up with something I could of stopped long ago. I must admit that I am smoking and really want to stop although I am having a battle with it. I have seen two different dentists and two different Maxiof.. (sorry dont know the spelling) mouth and cheek specialists and my ENT doctor. Thanks again for all your assistance.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (3 hours later)

Hi

Thanks for writing back

1.     Dr knows when you open and close your jaw on every opening you can feel like a round ball that moves right where the two jawline's get together.

The ball like thing which moves on movement of the jaw is the head of the lower jaw bone (mandible). The place where both the jaws XXXXXXX together is also known as Retromolar trigone and this area is notorious for smoking induced damage.

2.      I want to ask if I have TMJ could it be that the nerves or muscles are damaged and that one could feel it inside the mouth. Or a trigger point or something.

There are chances of either TMJ dysfunction on the right side or a blocked Eustachian tube inducing negative pressure inside the middle ear. And hence, because of the movement of the mandible there is pain induced in the ear. Either of them can be confirmed with Orthopantomogram, tympanogram and physical examination.

3.     If there was any cancer in there would one of the previous doctors have picked it up and the scan and the xrays. I know that early detection is best. Can it be that all the doctors have missed it.

Yes, there are chances that all could have missed a submucosal lesion (in situ) as this does not show up outside. But a full blown lesion in its early stages can be picked up by all the doctors and it is difficult to miss one. A Positron Emission Tomography Scan (PET scan) can pick up the early stages of cancer. Secondly, the roughness and the pimple could be due to chronic smoking also.

Hope I have answered all your queries. Please accept my answer if you do not have any follow ups.

Wish you good Health

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad