Oral and maxillofacial tumors, according to their biological characteristics and classification within the human body, are divided into two major categories: benign and malignant. The clinical identification of whether a tumor is benign or malignant holds very important significance.
Benign tumors can occur at any age, generally grow slowly, taking years to decades, with some reaching several kilograms in weight, such as parotid mixed tumors. Most benign tumors exhibit expansive growth; as their volume increases, they press on and compress surrounding tissues, forming appearances that are mostly spherical or lobulated. These tumors have capsules and do not adhere to surrounding tissues, making them generally movable. Patients usually experience no symptoms, but pain may occur if neighboring neurons are compressed, secondary infections occur, or malignancy develops. There is no lymph node metastasis. Generally, these tumors have no effect on the body, but if they grow in important areas like the tongue or soft palate, they may cause breathing difficulties, swallowing problems, and even pose life-threatening risks. Pathological examination reveals that the cells in benign tumors are differentiated, with cell morphology and structure resembling normal tissue. Common benign oral and maxillofacial tumors include fibromas, lipomas, ameloblastomas, neurofibromatosis, and hemangiomas.
Malignant tumors have very different characteristics compared to benign ones. They generally grow faster, showing invasive growth. Cancer mostly occurs in the elderly, while sarcomas are more common in young adults. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy surrounding tissues, resulting in ill-defined masses with limited mobility. When malignant tumors infiltrate their surroundings during growth, they can destroy nearby tissues and organs, leading to dysfunction. For example, damage to the facial nerve can cause facial paralysis; involvement of sensory nerves can cause pain or numbness; involvement of the jaw can lead to tooth mobility and pathological fractures; invasion of the pterygopalatine fossa, masseter, or pterygoid muscles can cause difficulty in opening the mouth. As the tumor grows, cancer cells can gradually invade nearby lymphatic and blood vessels, causing metastasis. In advanced stages, rapid tumor growth and the release of toxic substances can lead to severe conditions in patients. Patients often die due to rapid tumor growth, metastasis, invasion of vital organs, and the development of cachexia. Pathological examination reveals poorly differentiated cancer cells with atypical cell morphology and structure, as well as abnormal mitotic figures. Common malignant oral and maxillofacial tumors include oral squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, malignant lymphoma, malignant melanoma, and malignant mixed tumors, among others.
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