Diagnosis of oral cancer begins with a medical history and physical exam. A biopsy, or sample, may be taken from suspicious masses. If cancer is found, the healthcare provider will order tests to see the extent of the cancer. These may include X-rays of the chest and jaw. The provider may also order a CT scan, ultrasound, or MRI.
Oral cancers are graded as poorly or well differentiated, a process that looks at the types of cancer cells in the skin lesions. The following factors are also taken into account: