Just like other parts of the human body, the mouth also comprises of various types of cells. Therefore, the oral cancer type that a patient is diagnosed with largely depends on the cells from where the cancer began. To diagnose the right type of oral cancer, an extensive staging and diagnosis procedure is followed by the doctors. Determining the oral cancer type also plays an important role in deciding the type and course of the treatment.

Given below are the most common types of oral cancer:

1. Squamous cell carcinoma
Over 90 percent of cancers that affect the oral cavity are squamous cell carcinoma. The squamous cells are usually found in the throat and mouth lining. Under a microscope, these cells look flat and appear to be like fish scales. The squamous cell carcinoma develops in the oral cavity when some of the squamous cells mutate or become abnormal. This oral cancer type usually develops on those parts of the body that are more exposed to the sun. This can include the ears, neck, and face.

2. Verrucous carcinoma
This is a relatively less common type of oral cancer that accounts for only 5% of oral cancer cases. This type of cancer does not grow quickly and is made of squamous cells. Although this type of oral cancer is rarely found to spread to other parts of the body, it can invade some nearby tissues.

3. Minor salivary gland cancer
This condition includes several oral cancer types. These types of oral carcinomas may develop on the minor salivary glands that are present throughout the lining of the mouth and throat. This type of oral carcinomas can include the following:

• Adenoid cystic carcinoma
• Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
• Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma

4. Lymphoma
This type of oral cancer develops in the lymph tissue. The lymph tissue forms a part of the immune system known as lymphomas. The lymphoid tissue can be found on the tonsils and at the base of the tongue.

5. Benign oral cavity tumor
In some cases, oral cancer types can be non-cancerous tumors or can give rise to tumor-like conditions in the mouth and oropharynx. In certain conditions, these tumor-like conditions can develop into cancer. Therefore, these benign tumors are usually removed through surgery. The types of benign lesions can include:

• Eosinophilic granuloma
• Fibroma
• Granular cell tumor
• Keratoacanthoma
• Leiomyoma
• Osteochondroma
• Lipoma
• Schwannoma
• Neurofibroma
• Papilloma
• Condyloma acuminatum
• Verruciform xanthoma
• Pyogenic granuloma
• Rhabdomyoma
• Odontogenic tumors

6. Leukoplakia and erythroplakia
These are non-cancerous conditions that occur when some abnormal cells develop in the mouth or throat. In leukoplakia, a white area develops that is clearly visible, and in erythroplakia, a flat or a little raised red area can develop. This area often starts bleeding when scrapped. Both the conditions are precancerous stages and have the potential to develop into various types of cancer. When these conditions are diagnosed, a biopsy is needed to check if the cells present are cancerous are not.