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Clinical Evaluation and Staging of Oral Cancer

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Contemporary Oral Oncology

Abstract

The identification and evaluation of the patient with oral cavity cancer is an inherently multidisciplinary proposition. For most patients, the initial identification and evaluation of an oral lesion is undertaken by a primary healthcare giver—dentists, primary care physicians, oral surgeons, and general practitioners—before referring to a tertiary care center. Accurate diagnosis and staging at the initial visit is vital to appropriate decision-making and treatment planning. It is critical that the first examination of the oral cancer patient be comprehensive. Equally important is that the history taken is complete and elicits pertinent details that will give the oncologic care providers information that will be relevant to the care of the patient. Initial evaluation of the oral cavity cancer patient will not only result in tumor staging but also provide information about the most appropriate interventions and identify comorbidities that may influence treatment choices. Attempt also should be made to elicit social support network the patient has to facilitate treatment and surveillance.

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Correspondence to Christina Mimikos .

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Mimikos, C., Nair, S., Cohan, D. (2017). Clinical Evaluation and Staging of Oral Cancer. In: Kuriakose, M. (eds) Contemporary Oral Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14917-2_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14917-2_1

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