Cancer of the Palate (Palate Cancer)

The palate is commonly called the roof of the mouth. It is divided into two parts: the bony hard palate in the front, and the fleshy soft palate (called the velum) in the back of the mouth. The hard palate is part of the oral cavity and the soft palate is part of the oropharynx.

The hard palate creates a barrier between the mouth and the nasal cavity. A natural opening in the palate for nerves and blood vessels (near the third molar) can create a passageway for a tumor to spread into the nasal cavity.

The soft palate closes the nasal passage during swallowing so food does not enter the nose. It also helps create speech sounds. If the palate does not function correctly during speech, air escapes through the nose, and the speech has a nasal sound. During a sneeze, the soft palate closes the nasal passage to protect it. Substances in the sneeze are thrown out into mouth.

Symptoms

Most cancer of the palate is squamous cell. Cancer of the palate usually first noticed as an ulcer in the mouth. At first the ulcer is painless, but later becomes painful. Other symptoms also occur:

  • As the mass grows it can bleed
  • A foul odor in the mouth
  • Loose teeth or dentures no longer fit
  • Changes in speech
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Unable to open the jaw (trismus)
  • A lump in the neck

Causes and Risk Factors

Tobacco and alcohol use are risk factors for cancer of the soft palate.

Reverse smoking is a risk factor for cancer of the hard palate. In reverse smoking, the lit end of the cigarette is placed in the mouth. Intense heat is generated during this style of smoking.

Diagnosis

The surgeon will examine the palate with a mirror or a small, flexible scope. A tissue sample (biopsy) may be taken of any abnormal areas. A pathologist will then examine the sample under a microscope.

If palate cancer is diagnosed early, the treatment is very successful. The doctor may
order the following imaging procedures if it is suspected that the cancer has spread beyond the palate:

  • Blood tests
  • X-rays or CT scan to determine if the tumor has spread to the lung
  • Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNA). A thin needle is placed into the in the mouth. The cells are aspirated, and then examined under a microscope to determine if the lump is cancerous.
  • Imaging studies to determine if the tumor has invaded nearby tissues or other organs in the body.
    • Orthopantomography (Panorex) is a panoramic X-ray of the upper and lower jaw. It shows a view from ear to ear and it helps determine if a tumor has grown into the jaw bone.
    • CT scan. A special type of x-ray that makes a series of detailed pictures, with different angles, of areas inside the mouth and neck. A computer is linked to the x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed in a pill to help highlight the organs or tissues on the x-ray. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
    • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). A machine that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed pictures of areas inside the mouth and neck. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
    • PET scan. During a positron emission tomography scan (PET), a small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein. The scanner makes computerized pictures of the areas inside the body. Cancer cells absorb more radioactive glucose than normal cells, so the tumor is highlighted on the pictures.

Treatments

Radiation therapy is the primary treatment for moderate or advanced cancers of the soft palate. Laser microsurgery is used for small and medium-sized tumors. Radiation may be combined with chemotherapy or surgery when needed.

Surgery is the preferred treatment for cancer of the hard palate.

Resources at Cedars-Sinai