From the Guidelines
A 2 cm papilloma on the soft palate should be evaluated by an otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These specialists have the expertise and equipment necessary to properly examine, diagnose, and treat lesions in the oral cavity and oropharynx, as they are trained to conduct a comprehensive examination of the oropharynx, which may require visualization of areas such as the soft palate 1. The evaluation would typically include a thorough physical examination of the oral cavity, possibly with fiberoptic visualization, and likely a biopsy to determine if the lesion is benign or malignant. A papilloma of this size warrants prompt evaluation as it could potentially be a squamous papilloma (often benign), but could also represent a verrucous carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV status would be considered during the evaluation, as the prevalence of oral HPV infection is associated with age, sex, number of sexual partners, and number of cigarettes smoked per day 1. The specialist may also order imaging studies such as CT or MRI to assess the extent of the lesion and involvement of surrounding structures. Key considerations in the evaluation include:
- Thorough physical examination of the oral cavity and oropharynx
- Possible use of fiberoptic visualization or other specialized equipment
- Biopsy to determine the nature of the lesion
- Assessment of risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV status
- Potential ordering of imaging studies to assess the extent of the lesion. Timely evaluation is important as oral lesions can impact speech, swallowing, and breathing if they continue to grow, and early detection and treatment can significantly improve outcomes in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.
From the Research
Evaluation of 2 cm Papilloma on Soft Palate
- The evaluation of a 2 cm papilloma on the soft palate is typically conducted by a healthcare professional, such as an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or an oral pathologist 2, 3.
- The diagnosis of a papilloma on the soft palate involves a combination of clinical examination, imaging studies, and histopathologic analysis 4, 5.
- Imaging studies such as Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be used to assess the size and extent of the lesion 6.
- A biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions, such as squamous cell carcinoma or verrucous carcinoma 5, 3.
- The management of a papilloma on the soft palate may involve surgical removal, which can be performed in an office-based setting using a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser or in an operating room under general anesthesia 3.