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Should I Be Worried I’ve Noticed That Some Lighter Coloured Lumps Have Appeared On The Side Of My Tongue At The Back?
Posted on
Sat, 16 May 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 16 May 2020
Answered on
3 days ago
Last reviewed on
Question : I’ve noticed that some lighter coloured lumps have appeared on the side of my tongue at the back. It has a redish looking rash near it. This is not the same on the other side and has probably developed over the past 4 to 6 weeks. In the past two weeks a few more lumps have appeared. They’re all light pink in colour. Any idea? I’m a 32 year old male, smoker for 18 months smoking 10 cigarettes a day. Mild to medium alcoholic drinker (average around 3 glasses of wine and 3 gin and tonics a week). My only health issue is Ulcerative Colitis which has been in remission for 3 years and I take no medication for it
Brief Answer:
most probably benign until proved otherwise by FNAC or biopsy
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and clear photos.
Noted the history, seen the photos and understood your concerns.
My thoughts:
There sure are the lumps and does not looks to be enlarged folds which are present allowing the movement of the tongue.
The one on the upper part look to be lingual tonsil which is enlarged.
You also have tooth treatment done and also protruding buccal mucosa which may indicate towards suckling in of the tongue as well as cheek mucosa. All are at the same level.
But surely a cancer should be ruled out by the following ways:
Stop the habit of suckling in the cheek and tongue if you feel you have developed this habit.
Consult an ENT or Oral Surgeon as clinically actual palpation of the lump is needed.
FNAC or biopsy surely is the only confirmatory test.
Please discuss with your Doctor and give the follow up.
I hope this answer helps you, particularly in decision making and having final diagnosis asap.
Dr T Chandrakant.
ENT and General Surgeon.
most probably benign until proved otherwise by FNAC or biopsy
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and clear photos.
Noted the history, seen the photos and understood your concerns.
My thoughts:
There sure are the lumps and does not looks to be enlarged folds which are present allowing the movement of the tongue.
The one on the upper part look to be lingual tonsil which is enlarged.
You also have tooth treatment done and also protruding buccal mucosa which may indicate towards suckling in of the tongue as well as cheek mucosa. All are at the same level.
But surely a cancer should be ruled out by the following ways:
Stop the habit of suckling in the cheek and tongue if you feel you have developed this habit.
Consult an ENT or Oral Surgeon as clinically actual palpation of the lump is needed.
FNAC or biopsy surely is the only confirmatory test.
Please discuss with your Doctor and give the follow up.
I hope this answer helps you, particularly in decision making and having final diagnosis asap.
Dr T Chandrakant.
ENT and General Surgeon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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