Is a sore in the soft palate likely a fibroma or a cancer?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

After seeing the pictures (attachment removed to protect patient identity), the lesion looks like a fibroma. This is not a diagnosis, nor is this the way we go clinically, especially when it comes to the diagnosis of suspicious growths.

Fibromas are very common among oral growths. They are not always cancerous. Many times, they are due to trauma from teeth and dentures.

It is better to consult (in person) an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to get a second opinion on this lesion. He will have the advantage of performing a biopsy to test pathologically to identify the reactive cells or cancerous ones.

Right now, I want to reassure you that it may or may not be a cancerous growth. It can be managed better once diagnosed properly.

For further queries, consult an internal medicine physician online.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I appreciate your concerns and want to go into more detail for your understanding so that you may make a more informed decision for the best next step.

Fibromas are very common oral lesions. Mostly, they are formed on the cheeks (buccal mucosa) but can develop anywhere in the mouth.

Fibromas are not straightforward cancers to categorize. A fibroma is composed of fibrous tissue or other fully developed connective tissue. It can originate from repetitive stress due to trauma to a particular area of the oral lining (mucosa).

Foods hard in consistency, maligned teeth, removable dentures, and braces are some examples of the causative agents. A hard fiber toothbrush can also be the cause of repetitive trauma to the oral mucosa. Some people are allergic to specific ingredients in mouthwash, such as Listerine; this may also cause trauma and injury to the mucosal lining. Continuous irritation and inflammation with healing after that can lead to lesions in the mouth.

The lesion that is seen in the above pictures (attachment removed to protect patient identity) seems to be a fibroma. To simplify my previous sentences, I would say that if we have to spot diagnose this lesion (just by seeing it in the pictures or physically), it does not look cancerous.

However, as mentioned earlier, a biopsy is the best next step. It is an important milestone in decision-making regarding treatment options and the outcome of the lesion. The biopsy results will determine how to treat the lesion.

How has this lesion evolved in your mouth? If this is a fibrous growth, it may have been due to continued and repetitive trauma to the mucosal lining, which creates an overgrowth of the local tissue. The color differs from the natural surroundings. Margins of the lesion can be well demarcated in the picture, which also gives some clues that the lesion may be benign (not cancerous). A more accurate decision can be made once we go through the biopsy reports.

Lesions that are cancerous look rougher and may also invade the surrounding tissues. There can be other associated symptoms along with the lesion itself. There can be a real ulcer as cancers grow more vigorously.

In your case, fortunately, there are no such characteristics to categorize it as a cancerous growth. Other associations may include discharge, pain in the area, or lymph node swelling in the drainage area. So again, it does not fall into the typical cancerous category.

However, you always need to be on the safe side and get tested for a better understanding of the disease process and to proceed in a more definitive way to treat the lesion. I hope this helps you understand the lesion better. Once diagnosed, it can be treated more effectively.

For further queries, consult an internal medicine physician online.

Thank you.