Tongue cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs on the tongue and takes the first place among oral cancers. The tongue is divided into anterior 1/3, middle 1/3 and posterior 1/3 according to the location. 60%-70% of tongue cancers occur in the anterior and middle 1/3 of the tongue, and the lateral edge of the tongue is the most common location, followed by the ventral part of the tongue, the dorsal part of the tongue and the tip of the tongue. Those located in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue are called tongue body cancer and those located in the posterior 1/3 of the tongue are called tongue root cancer, which is classified as oropharyngeal cancer. Tongue cancer usually invades the muscle layer early and is most prone to cervical lymph node metastasis, with metastasis rate as high as 60%~80%, and sometimes cervical lymph node metastasis can be the first symptom. Risk factors 1.Long-term heavy smoking and long-term strong alcohol consumption. 2.Some chronic diseases, such as white spots of tongue mucosa, erythema, flat moss, etc. have more chances to become cancerous, and some of them may be early cancer. 3.Irregular sharp teeth, carious residual roots, unsuitable denture and other long-term stimulation cause trauma and produce ulcers, on the basis of which cancer may also occur. Abnormal manifestations Tongue cancer is not difficult to be diagnosed because its location is superficial, visible and palpable. However, people are often not alert to the early lesions of tongue cancer, which can be easily ignored and developed to advanced stage. 1.The early symptoms of tongue cancer in the front 2/3 of tongue, i.e. tongue body cancer, are mostly thickened plaques, white spots, red spots, hard nodes, fissures or ulcers. Later on, pain and ulceration occur, secondary infection and infiltration, easy bleeding with bad odor, difficulty in swallowing, large amount of salivation and limited tongue movement, enlarged submandibular and cervical lymph nodes, etc. 2.Tongue cancer of the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, i.e. tongue root cancer, is rarely detected at an early stage. The first symptom is pain at the root of the tongue, which is often considered as sore throat. The pain is aggravated when eating and often radiates to the ear. In advanced stage, the pain may involve the temporal region and the whole ipsilateral head and face, and then the tongue movement is restricted and mastication, speech and swallowing dysfunction occurs. In severe cases, the airway may be blocked, mostly with submandibular and cervical lymph node enlargement. The mass can be found under indirect laryngoscopy or palpation after mucosal surface anesthesia. Third, precancerous lesions Some chronic diseases of the tongue, such as white spots, erythema and flat moss of the tongue mucosa, can be regarded as precancerous lesions. Dangerous signal Erosion, ulcer, white spot, erythema, hard lump of the tongue, pain at the root of the tongue or lump found in the neck, which does not heal after a long time. Prevention 1, pay attention to oral hygiene, timely removal of caries and broken teeth, residual roots, crowns, cuspids, malformed teeth, etc. 2, abstain from smoking and alcohol, eliminate various stimulating factors to the oral mucosa, and actively treat chronic lesions such as ulcers and inflammatory plaques of the oral mucosa. 3.Men above 0 years old should pay attention to observe both edges of tongue tip and tongue belly, and if they find hard nodes, long-standing ulcers, erosions, lumps, red spots, white spots, etc., they should think of the possibility of pre-cancerous lesions of tongue or the possibility of tongue cancer, and should go to head and neck surgery or oral surgery of oncology hospital in time. First of all, whether it is cancer or not should be ruled out, and medicine should not be used indiscriminately. The doctor will decide whether to observe closely or to remove for pathological examination according to the disease stage to make a clear diagnosis.