Hello, I am a 19 year old male, and about a week ago I noticed a hard lump on my palate and needless to say I became very, very, very depressed when I realized it could be cancer. It is a hard but flat lump, and it hurts a little when I apply pressure to it with my finger, it is about as big as a the nail on a pinky finger, maybe smaller, when I looked at it with a mirror, I noticed that it is the same color as everything else. When I touch it, it feels hard, and I am not able to move it around, or change its shape by pressing it tightly (as if it is part of the underlying bone). My immediate reaction to it was that it could just be a normal sore caused by malnutrition or a cold, and when I asked my parents, both of them reassured me that they had something similar before and that it went away, but I don’t trust them. I know it is not normal to have lumps in your mouth, and I am seriously worried, I am even scared to go to the doctor because of what I might learn, but I plan to go this week regardless of my fears. I did some online research, and I read about a non-life-threatening condition called “torus palatinus”, but people with this condition have it all their lives and I clearly remember running my tongue across my palate recently and not feeling any bumps! Tell me what could be happening to me, I never smoked, I never chewed tobacco, I don’t drink much, why would something this horrible be happening to me???

Hello Rod

Have a look at Examination Technique with Normal Findings and Structures Mistaken for Disease. In the midline of the hard palate extra bone may be found (Fig. 1.25). Called a torus, it may be minimal or very enlarged. It will feel bony hard and will appear opaque on a radiograph confirming that it is composed of extra, but normal bone.

Most people are not aware of it unless it is large or attention gets drawn to it when it is traumatised or they get curious. So it might have been there all the time but you just weren't aware.

Let us know what your doctor or dentist says.

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Dr Kevin Soh, Senior Consultant, ENT Surgeon at the Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre in Singapore, describes how a tumor on the hard palate (torus palatinus) is removed using videos from live surgery, and graphics.

quote:

How To Remove A Tumor On The Palate (Torus Palatinus)

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