Anusree J¹*, Easwaran Ramaswami², Vijayalaxmi Nimma³, Suraj Bhoye¹, Siddhi Rane¹ and Dnyaneshwar Rathod⁴

¹B.D.S. (Second Year Post Graduate Student), Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, India
²M.D.S., Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, India
³M.D.S., Assistant Professor and Associate Professor (Academic), Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, India
⁴B.D.S (Third Year Post Graduate Student), Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, India

*Corresponding Author: Anusree J, B.D.S. (Second Year Post Graduate Student), Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Received: December 23, 2025; Published: December 26, 2025

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of is one of the common and aggressive malignancy, often associated with tobacco use. Early recognition and a multidisciplinary treatment approach are essential for improving outcomes. In this case report a 57-year-old female with a 15-year history of mishri (smokeless tobacco) use presented with a progressively enlarging ulcer on the right lateral border of the tongue. Initially painless, the lesion gradually became painful and interfered with oral function. Clinical examination revealed an indurated ulcer with rolled margins and a fixed right submandibular lymph node. MRI demonstrated a hyperintense lesion on T2- and STIR-weighted images, and biopsy confirmed moderately differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma. PET/CT scan showed a metabolically active primary lesion. The patient underwent wide local excision of the tongue segment with bilateral functional neck dissection, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. A PET/CT scan at 7 months showed no residual disease. During follow-up, she developed grade 2 dermatitis, mucositis, and dysphagia as acute side effects, and later experienced xerostomia, radiation caries, and superimposed candidal infection, which were managed with appropriate treatment. This case underscores the importance of multimodal imaging, surgical intervention, and adjuvant therapy in the management of tongue carcinoma, along with long-term supportive care to address radiation-related complications.

Keywords: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Tongue Carcinoma; Smokeless Tobacco; Functional Neck Dissection; Oral Cancer Management

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Citation

Citation: Anusree J., et al. “Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue in a Long-Term Mishri User: Diagnosis, Management, and Follow-Up — A Case Report".Acta Scientific Cancer Biology 10.1 (2026): 17-22.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Anusree J., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.