The bumps on the root of the tongue cause a lot of inconvenience to the patient. Even painless neoplasms can cause serious discomfort when talking, eating and breathing. What is the reason for the appearance of such tumors and how to treat them? We will consider these issues further.
Common reasons
Why are bumps formed on the root of the tongue? The reasons for their occurrence may be different. It depends on the type of neoplasm. However, we can identify common factors that lead to the growth of cones:
- trauma to the tongue during toothbrushing or during dental procedures;
- hormonal disorders;
- sore throat;
- the presence of pathogenic microbes in the mouth due to caries;
- non-compliance with oral hygiene;
- allergic reactions;
- reproduction in the mouth of the fungus after antibiotic treatment;
- inflammation of the salivary glands.
Next, we will examine in more detail the different types of neoplasms at the root of the tongue and their etiology.
Stomatitis
In childhood, stomatitis often occurs. This disease appears due to poor hygiene. Children often drag dirty objects into their mouths, which contributes to infection. As a result, inflammation of the mucous membrane is formed.
With stomatitis, small pimples form on the root of the tongue. In the middle of them you can see a deepening of white. Patients experience severe pain when touching the rash. This often complicates the eating process.
It should be noted that with stomatitis, rashes are formed not only in the tongue, but throughout the oral cavity. In children, the disease can be accompanied by high fever and a deterioration in overall health. However, discomfort can begin with the root of the tongue. Subsequently, they spread to the entire oral cavity. Therefore, at the beginning of the disease, the patient may complain of painful pimples on the tongue.
Sialadenitis
This is an inflammation of the salivary glands that is most often caused by an infection. The disease is more likely to affect children and the elderly. Rashes usually appear on the salivary glands, but can also affect the root of the tongue. They look like multiple white bumps. At the onset of the disease, the patient may not experience discomfort. But then there is pain in the neck, fever and deterioration of overall well-being. Cones on the root of the tongue and on the salivary glands often suppurate.
Sialadenitis is a rather dangerous disease. Without treatment, stones form in the salivary glands. It becomes difficult for a person to eat, since he does not produce saliva well. In advanced cases, the infection can pass to the brain, which leads to meningitis.
Inflammation of the frenum of the tongue
What to do if the tongue hurts at the bottom? Such a symptom may be a sign of inflammation of the frenum. It occurs due to injury, as well as after a sore throat or stomatitis. Under the tongue appears in the form of a ball. It is extremely painful. It becomes difficult for the patient to talk and eat. Often in patients body temperature rises and swelling of the entire tongue occurs. The disease is treated operatively.
Papilloma
This formation is in the form of a wart on the leg. The causative agent of the disease is the human papillomavirus. It penetrates the body through damage to the mucosa.
Papilloma looks like a papillary or tuberous bump on the root of the tongue. Often, she is diagnosed only at the appointment of a dentist or otolaryngologist. But in most cases, the neoplasm still causes serious discomfort to the patient. Papilloma is easily injured during eating and may bleed slightly.
It is important to remember that a wart on the tongue is dangerous. When injured, it can degenerate into a malignant tumor.
Abscesses and cysts
In the initial stage, the abscess looks like a red pimple on the root of the tongue. Then it is filled with pus, and a white head appears on its surface. A person experiences severe pain in the posterior lingual region. An abscess is formed due to the penetration of infection into small wounds on the tongue.
Sometimes an abscess erupts on its own. However, you should not count on such an outcome. Make an appointment with a surgeon. The specialist will open the abscess and prescribe further treatment.
Cysts are bubbles filled with fluid. They look like white or black tubercles at the root of the tongue. A person experiences great discomfort when talking or eating.
It is necessary to try as little as possible to touch such rashes. Cysts may burst when pressed. In this case, there is a danger of bacterial infection.
Herpetic infection
Patients often believe that fever can only appear on the lips. Many have also heard of genital herpes. However, this infection can also affect the oral cavity. Herpetic rashes in appearance are very similar to small cysts. They look like white bubbles.
Usually the area of rashes is not limited only to the root of the tongue. Small vesicles can cover most of the oral cavity. They cause severe discomfort when moving the tongue.
Congenital pathology
Sometimes neoplasms at the root of the tongue can be congenital in nature. They appear due to impaired fetal development in the prenatal period. Most often, such tumors are diagnosed in childhood. Consider in more detail the congenital pathologies of the language:
- Hemangioma. It is a tumor composed of blood cells. Its etiology is associated with a violation of embryogenesis. More often hemangioma affects girls, the disease is detected either at birth or in early childhood. The neoplasm has the form of a red spot or cones of a blue-purple color. When a tumor is injured, profuse bleeding occurs.
- Lymphangioma The tumor grows from the lymphatic vessels. Rashes look like warts. Often, the language is greatly increased in size. Lymphangioma is diagnosed in childhood. The neoplasm is often inflamed due to trauma to solid food or teeth.
- Struma root of the tongue. This is a very rare disease. If embryonic development is impaired, thyroid cells can enter the forming tongue. This is the cause of the pathology. Struma is composed of thyroid tissue. It looks like a nodule under the tongue up to 3 cm in size. This disease is also called goiter of the tongue. Clinically, it usually manifests itself in the puberty period. It becomes difficult for a child to swallow and speak. This tumor must be removed by surgery, as it is prone to malignant degeneration.
Benign formations
Benign tumors are usually painless bumps on the root of the tongue. They rarely cause patient discomfort. Unpleasant sensations can occur only with accidental trauma or a significant growth of the neoplasm.
However, it must be remembered that some tumors can develop into dangerous malignant neoplasms. Therefore, if a lump is found in the area of the tongue, you need to sign up to a therapist or oncologist as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment of tumors will help to avoid cancer pathologies.
Consider the most common types of benign tumors at the root of the tongue:
- Lipoma. In everyday life, such a cone is called a wen. It can form not only on the outer skin, but also on the tongue. Lipoma is often observed in people suffering from atherosclerosis and impaired fat metabolism. This mobile painless formation in the form of a ball filled with the secretion of the sebaceous glands. There were no cases of malignant degeneration of lipoma.
- Fibroma. The tumor consists of connective tissue fibers. More common in children and adolescents. It looks like dense, painless tubercles at the root of the tongue. Injury stimulates tumor growth and can lead to malignant degeneration.
- Neurofibroma. This neoplasm consists of nerve branches. Unlike most benign tumors, neurofibroma is quite painful. They look like a nodule at the root of the tongue. It is rare.
- Botriomycoma. This tumor is also called pyogenic granuloma. She looks like a bright red knot on the leg. The neoplasm does not cause particular inconvenience to the patient and does not pose a threat to health and life. However, without treatment, the tumor grows rapidly and bleeds.
- Adenoma. The tumor grows from epithelial cells. It looks like growths in the form of polyps at the root of the tongue. Large adenomas can undergo malignant degeneration.
- Myoma. This neoplasm occurs due to the growth of muscle tissue. It has the appearance of a dense tumor up to 1 cm in size. On its surface sometimes protrusions appear in the form of papillae. There is a risk of malignancy of fibroids.
It is important to remember that the rapid growth of a benign tumor, its color change and the appearance of a pain syndrome is often a sign of malignant degeneration. Therefore, such neoplasms are recommended to be removed in the early stages.
Tongue Cancer
Tongue root cancer often develops in men over the age of 40. A lumpy bump is formed on the organ, which grows deep in the roots of the tissue.
At the initial stage, the neoplasm is small and looks like a seal up to 1 cm in size. It can have a different shape and color.
Then the tumor grows in size and passes from the tongue to the jaw. It becomes difficult for a person to chew and swallow.
In advanced cases, metastases in the jaw bone and lymph nodes occur. Bleeding ulcers appear on the tongue. The organ greatly increases in size and fills almost the entire oral cavity. It is almost impossible to treat cancer at this stage.
What can not be done
If you notice a neoplasm in your tongue, you should never touch it. This can lead to trauma to the tumor and serious complications.
If the bump looks like a purulent pimple or cyst, you do not need to try to pierce it and squeeze out the contents. This will cause infection. Only a doctor in sterile conditions can open abscesses in the tongue .
What to do if your tongue hurts? Many neoplasms are accompanied by unpleasant sensations and discomfort. Before visiting a doctor, you can rinse your mouth with a decoction of chamomile, sage or oak bark. This will help reduce pain. You can also use the anti-inflammatory gel Metrogil Dent. However, these are temporary measures. Only a specialist can prescribe a full treatment.
Visit doctor
Which doctor should be consulted in case of detection of neoplasms at the root of the tongue? After all, there can be many causes of tumors, and all of them require treatment from different specialists.
First you need to sign up to a therapist. If necessary, a general practitioner will refer you to the right specialist: dentist, otolaryngologist, infectious disease specialist or oncologist. Many tumors require surgical treatment, in this case you need to see a surgeon.
Diagnostics
As we found out, lumps in the oral cavity can have a different etiology. Therefore, the purpose of the tests will depend on the intended diagnosis. Before conducting laboratory tests, a specialist conducts a detailed examination of the neoplasm.
Usually, doctors always recommend a general blood and urine test. This will help to detect the presence of inflammation.
If infectious diseases (herpes, papillomatosis, stomatitis) are suspected, PCR diagnostics may be required.
With benign and malignant tumors, a biopsy is prescribed. A small piece of tissue is taken from the cone and sent for microscopy. According to the results of the study, one can judge the type of neoplasm.
Treatment
Conservative therapy is possible only in case of stomatitis and herpes infection. With these diseases, the cones are not tumors, but rashes. Antibiotics and antiviral drugs are prescribed orally. Frequent mouthwashes with antiseptics are recommended.
Inflammation of the salivary glands at the initial stage is also treated with antibiotics and physiotherapeutic procedures. However, in advanced cases, the glands are drained and stones are removed.
As for tumors, such neoplasms are treated only surgically. After surgery in the tongue, the patient must follow a sparing diet and take the prescribed medications. If you follow all the recommendations of a doctor, then the recovery period passes without complications.
After surgery for cancer of the tongue, the patient is usually prescribed a course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This avoids relapse of the disease.
Prevention
How to prevent bumps in the tongue? Many neoplasms result from infection of wounds in the oral cavity. Therefore, when brushing your teeth and eating solid foods, you should try to avoid injury to the mucous membrane. It is important to monitor the cleanliness of the oral cavity and timely cure diseases of the teeth and throat.
If a lump has formed on the root of the tongue, then you should not delay visiting a doctor. Tumors are successfully cured at an early stage. It must be remembered that, without treatment, a harmless tubercle in the tongue can lead to the development of a serious oncological disease.