Last year, Barbara Smith, 72, experienced excessive gum bleeding during her daily brushing routine. Initially dismissing it as a minor issue, the persistent symptoms led her to seek dental advice. A periodontist suspected lichen planus, an autoimmune condition affecting gum tissue, and referred her for further testing.
A biopsy was sent to Nadarajah Vigneswaran at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. Although the results were inconclusive between lichen planus and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, a potentially malignant disorder, Vigneswaran decided to examine Smith personally at UT Dentists.
During this examination, Vigneswaran discovered a concerning area on Smith's tongue and performed another biopsy. This revealed early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. "No one thinks you’re going to go to the dentist and be diagnosed with cancer," Smith remarked.
Smith was then referred to Jonathan Shum at UT Dentists for surgery. "Because the cancer was detected so early, the cancer was removed without signs of spread or high-risk features," Shum stated.
The importance of oral health is emphasized in Smith's case. Early detection allowed for successful treatment without additional interventions. "Bleeding in the gums is fairly common for a lot of people... Fortunately for Mrs. Smith, we identified it early," Vigneswaran explained.
Smith now undergoes regular check-ups with Vigneswaran and Shum to monitor any potential recurrence or precancerous developments. She expressed gratitude for the swift action by the UTHealth Houston dental team: "I am thankful for the quick and thorough treatment."
