Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip

Abstract

The lips serve as the functional sphincter of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and entryway to the upper aerodigestive tract and play a critical role in speech, deglutition, and oral-motor function. Lip cancer in general refers to epithelial malignancies that take origin form the vermillion of the lower lip (de Visscher and van der Waal 1998). Lip cancer is frequently grouped analytically with oral cavity cancers; however, the etiopathogenesis is notably different. For all intent and purposes, lip cancer is more closely related to skin cancer than to oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and therefore warrants separate and distinct discussion regarding its pathogenesis.