Have you ever noticed a small lump or tumor inside your mouth or jaw and wondered what it was? Or have you ever been scared when a dentist looked at your X-ray and said, "There's something small here"? Although these things are actually very uncommon, they can happen to anyone. So today, let's talk about Jaw Cysts and Tumors.
What are these jaw cysts and tumors?
Simply put, these are growths that can form inside your mouth, on the bones of your jaw (including your teeth), or on soft tissues. A jaw cyst is a sac filled with fluid or a semi-fluid substance. Think of it like a small blister, but it forms inside tissue. A tumor, on the other hand, is a solid mass of tissue that is made up of abnormal cells. Both of these growths are often benign, or non-cancerous. This means that they can grow large, affecting the tissues of your face and mouth, but they usually don't spread to other parts of your body.
However, very rarely, these jaw-related lumps or tumors can become malignant, or cancerous. Doctors also call this jaw cancer . If left untreated, these cancerous lumps and tumors can spread beyond your jaw to other parts of your body.
Therefore, if you notice any new growths in your jaw area or inside your mouth, it's important to show them to a doctor. Even if a lump or tumor is benign, some types can cause pain, damage the jawbone, or even dislocate teeth.
What are the types of jaw cysts and tumors?
There are several types of jaw-related cysts and tumors. Doctors classify them as benign or malignant, and whether they start in tissues related to tooth development (odontogenic cysts and tumors) or other tissues (nonodontogenic cysts and tumors).
Common types of benign jaw tumors and tumors
Most often, these are non-cancerous, that is, 'benign' types of tumors and growths. Let's take a look at the main ones:
- Ameloblastoma: This is a slow-growing, odontogenic tumor that arises from the tissues that make teeth. It most often develops in your lower jaw, near your back teeth (molars). Although it is usually benign, some types of ameloblastoma can become malignant over time. Although it is a benign tumor, it can sometimes grow large enough to change the shape of your jaw or damage your teeth.
- Central giant cell granuloma: This is the most common non-odontogenic benign tumor. It most often occurs in the front of the lower jaw. However, it can also occur in the upper jaw. Most tumors cause only a painless swelling of the jaw. However, rapidly growing tumors can cause painful swelling and tooth loss.
- Dentigerous cysts: This is the second most common type of odontogenic cyst, originating from the tissues that form teeth. These are slow-growing cysts that form around the tissues of unerupted teeth in the mouth. They most often form near your back teeth (molars). Sometimes, they can also be found near the upper canines, which are the teeth on either side of your front teeth.
- Odontogenic keratocysts: These are also slow-growing cysts. They often form near the back teeth (molars). Small keratocysts are usually not painful, but larger cysts can cause painful swelling. These cysts can sometimes be a sign of a hereditary condition called Gorlin syndrome . This condition increases the risk of developing odontogenic keratocysts and some types of skin cancer.
- Odontogenic myxoma / myxofibroma: This is a benign, slow-growing tumor. However, this tumor can grow large enough to damage your jaw and displace teeth.
- Odontoma: This is the most common benign, odontogenic tumor. One type usually occurs in the lower jaw and contains several tooth-like structures (the `compound type`). The other type usually occurs in the upper jaw and contains abnormal tissue that does not resemble teeth (the `complex type`).
- Periapical cysts: This is the most common type of jaw cyst. They are caused by inflammation caused by trauma to a tooth.
Rare Malignant Jaw Cysts and Tumors
Fortunately, cancerous, or 'malignant', jaw tumors and cysts are very rare. Here are some examples:
- Carcinoma: This is a type of cancer that starts in the tissues that line organs, internal passages, and skin.
- Sarcoma: This is a cancer that starts in the bones or surrounding soft tissues.
- Carcinosarcoma: This is a combination of both types of cancer, `(Carcinoma)` and `(Sarcoma).`
How common are these jaw-related cysts and tumors?
In fact, jaw-related tumors and lumps are not that common. However, malignant or cancerous types are very rare.
However, research has shown that people in certain regions are more likely to develop them. For example, in North America, only 1% of abnormal growths in the mouth are odontogenic tumors. However, in some African countries, this figure is as high as 20%.
What are the symptoms if I have a lump or tumor in my jaw?
Most of the time, these cysts and tumors grow slowly and don't cause symptoms. You may not even know you have one unless it's discovered incidentally during a dental X-ray or imaging test for another head and neck problem.
However, when the growths become large, meaning they start to invade nearby healthy tissue, symptoms may appear. These include:
- Pain, stiffness, or numbness in the jaw area.
- Swelling (this may be painful or may go away).
- Changes in your facial appearance.
- A new lump in the jawbone (this can be hard or soft).
- A change in the way the teeth meet (Changing bite).
- Teeth grinding.
What causes these jaw cysts and tumors?
Most jaw tumors and tumors develop because cells that help make teeth behave abnormally, forming tumors or fluid-filled sacs (cysts). This is what happens in ``odontogenic`` growths. However, cells do not have to be involved in tooth formation to grow abnormally.
Abnormal cell growth is often caused by changes in DNA (genetic mutations) . As you know, DNA is the code that tells our cells how to grow and when to stop. When there are problems with this code, the process of cell division can go awry, leading to unwanted growth.
For example, people with Gorlin syndrome (nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome) have mutations that cause cells to continue dividing even when they should stop. As a result, people with this condition often develop multiple odontogenic keratocysts. They also have an increased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.
How are these jaw cysts and tumors diagnosed?
Your doctor will review your symptoms, medical history, and perform a physical exam. Imaging tests may show tumors or cysts in and around your jaw. These include:
- X-rays.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography scan (CT scan).
In addition, you may need to have a biopsy . In a biopsy, a doctor takes a sample of fluid or tissue from the growth. A pathologist examines the sample under a microscope to see what types of cells it contains. This information can help your doctor find out:
- What type of cyst or tumor do you have?
- Is it 'benign' or 'malignant'?
- Is it slow-growing or aggressive?
All of these factors help your doctor decide what treatment options are best for you.
How are these jaw cysts and tumors treated?
Many people have to have a cyst or tumor removed through surgery . In addition to removing the growth, your surgeon may also remove affected tissue. This may include damaged teeth, or parts of the lower jaw or upper jaw. Surgery to remove parts of the lower jaw is called a mandibulectomy , and surgery to remove all or part of the upper jaw is called a maxillectomy .
After surgery, you may need treatments like these to rebuild your jaw and help with the healing process:
- Reconstructive surgery: To make your jaw look like it did before the tumor developed, your doctor may use a piece of bone from another part of your body (such as your hip, shoulder blade, or lower leg).
- Dental implants: You may need to have artificial teeth installed to replace teeth that your doctor has removed.
- Speech therapy: If you have difficulty speaking or pronouncing words clearly after surgery, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help you.
- Nutrition guidance: You may need to see a specialist, such as a dietitian or nutritionist, for advice on what foods are safe to eat while you recover.
If you have jaw cancer, your doctor may also recommend cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy . The best treatment for you will depend on the type of tumor or cyst you have.
What can I expect if I have a jaw lump or tumor?
Most jaw cysts and tumors can be completely cured with surgery. However, depending on the type, you may need to continue to have follow-up visits to check for new growths.
For example, periapical cysts, odontomas, and dentigerous cysts usually do not recur after surgery. However, central giant cell granuloma, odontogenic myxoma, and odontogenic keratocysts can recur. Ameloblastoma recurs in about 20% of cases.
When should I seek medical advice?
If you have pain or swelling in your jaw, or notice a change in your appearance, such as a lump in your jaw or loose teeth, see a doctor right away. It could be a sign of a cyst, a tumor, or another dental condition that a doctor can treat.
It's especially important to keep seeing your dentist. A routine dental X-ray can detect a cyst or tumor when it's still small and doesn't cause symptoms.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
Here are some questions you can ask your doctor:
- What type of tumor or cyst do I have?
- Is it benign or malignant?
- Will I need surgery?
- What are the chances of this happening again after surgery?
- How should I take care of myself while recovering from surgery?
When should I be concerned about a lump on the jawline?
There are many possible causes for a lump in the jawline. Most of them are not serious enough to be alarming. They can be caused by things like cysts and tumors, or they can be something as simple as an allergic reaction or a swollen lymph node .
It's worth keeping in mind that most benign growths feel soft and movable to the touch. If a growth is cancerous, it's more likely to feel hard. The only exception to this is a cancer called liposarcoma , which can feel like a soft, movable lump.
If you have a new lump, it won't go away, is painful, and is interfering with your jaw movement - then it's time to see a doctor.
Finally, what to remember (Take-Home Message)
Although most jaw cysts and tumors are benign, or noncancerous, it's common to feel discouraged when you find out you have a condition that requires surgery. However, it's important to remove them before they cause symptoms that make it difficult to live with, such as pain and swelling in the mouth. If you're already suffering from these symptoms, surgery can help get rid of them completely. Ask your doctor about the treatment options and possible outcomes for your specific type of cyst or tumor. Never ignore anything unusual in your mouth or jaw. It's wise to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
` Jaw cysts, jaw cancer, oral cysts, tooth cysts, oral health, jaw cysts, jaw tumors, oral cancer
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න