Hello,

I have a small (2-3) millimeter, hard, white bump on the side of my tongue. I have never had cancer; however, about 1 year ago I had a biopsy done just behind the spot with the white bump. The dentist found a suspicious cyst back there. It came back negative. Anyway, I have been stressed out of my mind the past year, and I've gone to the dentist/oral surgeon on two different occasions to have them check other suspicious spots.

I have been crying wolf so to speak, but I'm worried about this little spot. I think it has been there for some time, but it seems like it may be bigger now. I really don't know. It is not painful, and once again, it is slightly in front of the biopsy site, hard, white, slightly raised, and circular. I am scheduled to go to the dentist in September, and I wonder if I should just wait until then to have them check this. I went to the dentist about 2 months ago to have them check a bump next to one of my teeth. It ended up getting smaller and leaving a little depression. Dentist said not to worry about it. Anyway, I guess I'm looking for advice. Does it sound like I'm just paranoid, or should I have this little bump checked out right away?

Hello onegoing

I suggest a pragmatic watchful wait until you see your dentist in September since you have only recently seen your dentist and the lesion has been there for some time. Do see you dentist earlier if it gets bigger, ulcerates or causes discomfort or to get peace of mind if it worries you in any way.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thank you very much for your prompt reply. I will follow your advice and ask my dentist about this in September. One quick question. The little white bump looks an aweful lot like an enlarged pseudocyst in the foliate papillae from this link (http://www.dentalmedsoft.com/OralPathBookdemo/OralPathText/Chapter%201.htm) Would one of those be hard, painless, and stay for some time like how I have described my bump?

Thank you again.

quote:

Bacterial plugs and pseudocysts may occur here also (Figure 1.41)

I have no personal experience of this. According to the reference, psudocysts can discharge if squeezed, and then regress. Do let us know how you get on.

Thanks again. I will keep an eye on it until I see my dentist.

onegoing, as one who was given info from a dentist as a "callous, and not to worry" for a spot on my tongue that was later biopsied and determined to be squamous cell cancer,...I would encourage you to insist on a biopsy at your upcoming appt. I was happy to continue in life with a "callous" on my tongue (and didn't want to know more). After two years of kidding myself and obtaining the biopsy, I finally knew what was needed to be done.

My encouragement is to get the biopsy.

Best wishes,

Bob