Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a prevalent malignancy that afflicts the head and neck area and presents a high incidence of metastasis and invasion. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are essential for enhancing the quality of life and the survival rates of TSCC patients. The current treatment modalities for TSCC frequently suffer from a lack of specificity and efficacy. Nanoparticles with diagnostic and photothermal therapeutic properties may offer a new approach for the targeted therapy of TSCC. However, inadequate accumulation of photosensitizers at the tumor site diminishes the efficacy of photothermal therapy (PTT). This study modified gold nanodots (AuNDs) with the TSCC-targeting peptide HN-1 to improve the selectivity and therapeutic effects of PTT. The Au-HN-1 nanosystem effectively targeted the TSCC cells and was rapidly delivered to the tumor tissues compared to the AuNDs. The enhanced accumulation of photosensitizing agents at tumor sites achieved significant PTT effects in a mouse model of TSCC. Moreover, owing to its stable long-term fluorescence and high X-ray attenuation coefficient, the Au-HN-1 nanosystem can be used for fluorescence and computed tomography imaging of TSCC, rendering it useful for early tumor detection and accurate delineation of surgical margins. In conclusion, Au-HN-1 represents a promising nanomedicine for imaging-based diagnosis and targeted PTT of TSCC.
Tongue Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnostic imaging* ; Animals ; Gold/chemistry* ; Mice ; Photothermal Therapy/methods* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Photosensitizing Agents ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor

The presence of a positive deep surgical margin in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) significantly elevates the risk of local recurrence. Therefore, a prompt and precise intraoperative assessment of margin status is imperative to ensure thorough tumor resection. In this study, we integrate Raman imaging technology with an artificial intelligence (AI) generative model, proposing an innovative approach for intraoperative margin status diagnosis. This method utilizes Raman imaging to swiftly and non-invasively capture tissue Raman images, which are then transformed into hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained histopathological images using an AI generative model for histopathological diagnosis. The generated H&E-stained images clearly illustrate the tissue's pathological conditions. Independently reviewed by three pathologists, the overall diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing between tumor tissue and normal muscle tissue reaches 86.7%. Notably, it outperforms current clinical practices, especially in TSCC with positive lymph node metastasis or moderately differentiated grades. This advancement highlights the potential of AI-enhanced Raman imaging to significantly improve intraoperative assessments and surgical margin evaluations, promising a versatile diagnostic tool beyond TSCC.
Humans ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman/methods* ; Tongue Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnostic imaging* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Margins of Excision

OBJECTIVE: To identify the key features of facial and tongue images associated with anemia in female populations, establish anemia risk-screening models, and evaluate their performance. METHODS: A total of 533 female participants (anemic and healthy) were recruited from Shuguang Hospital. Facial and tongue images were collected using the TFDA-1 tongue and face diagnosis instrument. Color and texture features from various parts of facial and tongue images were extracted using Face Diagnosis Analysis System (FDAS) and Tongue Diagnosis Analysis System version 2.0 (TDAS v2.0). Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used for feature selection. Ten machine learning models and one deep learning model (ResNet50V2 + Conv1D) were developed and evaluated. RESULTS: Anemic women showed lower a-values, higher L- and b-values across all age groups. Texture features analysis showed that women aged 30-39 with anemia had higher angular second moment (ASM)and lower entropy (ENT) values in facial images, while those aged 40-49 had lower contrast (CON), ENT, and MEAN values in tongue images but higher ASM. Anemic women exhibited age-related trends similar to healthy women, with decreasing L-values and increasing a-, b-, and ASM-values. LASSO identified 19 key features from 62. Among classifiers, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model achieved the best performance [area under the curve (AUC): 0.849, accuracy: 0.781]. The ResNet50V2 model achieved comparable results [AUC: 0.846, accuracy: 0.818]. CONCLUSION Differences in facial and tongue images suggest that color and texture features can serve as potential TCM phenotype and auxiliary diagnostic indicators for female anemia.
Humans ; Female ; Tongue/diagnostic imaging* ; Adult ; Anemia/diagnosis* ; Middle Aged ; Face/diagnostic imaging* ; Young Adult ; Machine Learning

Foreign bodies in the tongue are rare in clinical practice. Accurate localization and appropriate surgical path selection are essential to reduce surgical risk and postoperative complications. This paper reports a case in which the fishbone foreign body at the base of tongue was removed using a translingual ventral approach aided with imaging localization.
Humans ; Foreign Bodies/diagnostic imaging* ; Tongue/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of cordycepin on oral cancer xenograft in nude mice and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Sixteen BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) TCA-8113 cell xenografts were randomized into model group and cordycepin treatment group for daily treatment with saline and cordycepin for 4 weeks. After the treatment, the tumor xenografts were dissected and weighed to assess the tumor inhibition rate. Histological changes in the heart, spleen, liver, kidney, and lung of the mice were evaluated with HE staining, and tumor cell apoptosis was examined using TUNEL staining; The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, GRP78, CHOP, and caspase-12 in the xenografts were detected using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Cordycepin treatment resulted in a tumor inhibition rate of 56.09% in the nude mouse models, induced obvious changes in tumor cell morphology and significantly enhanced apoptotic death of the tumor cells without causing pathological changes in the vital organs. Cordycepin treatment also significantly reduced Bcl-2 expression (P < 0.05) and increased Bax, GRP78, CHOP, and caspase-12 expressions at both the RNA and protein levels in the tumor tissues. CONCLUSION Cordycepin treatment can induce apoptotic death of TCA-8113 cell xenografts in nude mice via the endogenous mitochondrial pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy* ; Heterografts ; Mice, Nude ; Tongue Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Cordyceps ; Caspase 12 ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Tongue

Neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC) is a malignant tumor derived from neuroendocrine cells, with distinct clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the head and neck is very rare in clinic. Larynx is the most common affected site, and the root of the tongue is extremely rare. The clinical manifestations are mainly eating pain, cauliflower like mass in the mouth, and ulcerative lesions that have not healed for a long time. Maxillofacial MRI and contrastenhanced CT are the most commonly used examination tools for such diseases, which can detect the spaceoccupying lesions of tumors. Neuroendocrine granules found in the cytoplasm under pathological light microscope can be diagnosed as neuroendocrine carcinoma. However, for most cases, it is difficult to make a diagnosis only under light microscope, and it is often necessary to make a diagnosis by means of immunohistochemistry and other technical means. This paper reports a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the root of the tongue, introduces its characteristics, diagnosis and treatment, and reviews the relevant literature of this case.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology* ; Tongue ; Neck/pathology* ; Larynx/pathology* ; Mouth/pathology*

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare neurogenic malignant tumor. MPNST has aty-pical clinical symptoms and imaging presentations, difficult diagnosis, a high degree of malignancy, and poor prognosis. It usually occurs in the trunk, approximately 20% in the head and neck, and rarely in the mouth. This paper reports a case of MPNST of the tongue. A summary of the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of MPNST is presented in combination with a literature review to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Humans ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neurofibrosarcoma ; Tongue/pathology*

OBJECTIVES: Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a common cancer in the oral and maxillofacial region, which seriously endangers people's life and health.Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1(hnRNP A2/B1) is an RNA-binding protein that regulates the expression of a variety of genes and participates in the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers. This study aims to investigate the role of hnRNP A2/B1 in TSCC progression. METHODS: The differential expression of hnRNP A2/B1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral mucosa cells and tissues was analyzed based on the gene expression profiles of GSE146483 and GSE85195 in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The correlation between hnRNP A2/B1 expression and disease-free survival of TSCC patients was analyzed based on TSCC related chip of GSE4676. TSCC cancer and paracancerous tissue samples of 30 patients were collected in Hunan Cancer Hospital from July to December 2021. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to verify the mRNA and protein expression of hnRNP A2/B1 in TSCC patients'samples, respectively. Human TSCC Tca-8113 cells were transfected with hnRNP A2/B1 empty vector (a sh-NC group), knockdown plasmid (a sh-hnRNP A2/B1 group), empty vector overexpression plasmid (an OE-NC group) and overexpression plasmid (an OE-hnRNP A2/B1 group), respectively. The knockdown or overexpression efficiency of hnRNP A2/B1 was detected by Western blotting. The proliferation activity of Tca-8113 cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and the apoptosis rate of Tca-8113 cells was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Based on the analysis of OSCC-related chips of GSE146483 and GSE85195 in the GEO database, it was found that hnRNP A2/B1 was differentially expressed in the OSCC and normal oral mucosa cells and tissues (all P<0.01). Meanwhile, the analysis of TSCC related chip GSE4676 confirmed that the expression of hnRNP A2/B1 was negatively correlated with the disease-free survival of TSCC patients (P=0.006). The results of real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the relative expression levels of hnRNP A2/B1 mRNA and protein in TSCC tissues were significantly up-regulated compared with those in adjacent tissues (all P<0.01). The results of Western blotting showed that the expression level of hnRNP A2/B1 in Tca-8113 cells was significantly inhibited or promoted after knockdown or overexpression of hnRNP A2/B1 (all P<0.01). The results of CCK-8 and flow cytometry showed that inhibition of hnRNP A2/B1 expression in Tca-8113 cells reduced cell proliferation activity (P<0.05) and increased cell apoptic rate (P<0.01). Overexpression of hnRNP A2/B1 in Tca-8113 cells significantly increased cell proliferation (P<0.05) and decreased cell apoptosis (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS HnRNP A2/B1 is a key factor regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of TSCC cells. Inhibition of hnRNP A2/B1 expression can reduce the proliferation activity of TSCC cells and promote the apoptosis of TSCC cells.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics* ; Sincalide/metabolism* ; Tongue Neoplasms/genetics* ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tongue/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor

Objective: To investigate the efficacies of different forms of free radial collateral artery perforator flaps in repairing the defects after oral tumor surgeries. Methods: From May 2016 to March 2021, 28 patients (22 males, 6 females, aged 35-62 years) with oral tumors admitted by Hunan Cancer Hospital received the reconstructive surgeries with the free radial collateral artery perforator flaps after removal of oral tumors, including 24 cases of tongue cancer (11 cases of tongue marginal cancer, 9 cases of tongue belly cancer and 4 cases of tongue cancer involved in the floor of the mouth) and 4 cases of buccal and oral cancer. Four forms of radial collateral artery perforator flaps were used: single perforator flaps for 6 cases, double perforators flaps for 7 cases, flaps without perforator visualization for 10 cases and chimeric perforator myocutaneous flaps for 5 cases. The recipient vessels were the superior thyroid artery and superior thyroid vein, and if second concomitant vein available, it was anastomosed with internal jugular vein in end-to-side fashion. SPSS 20.0 statistical software was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean length of flaps was (9.7±0.4) cm, mean width (4.4±0.3) cm and mean thickness (1.1±0.4) cm. The mean length of the vascular pedicles was (7.1±0.6)cm (6.0-8.0 cm), the mean diameter of the radial accessory arteries was (1.1±0.3)mm (0.8-1.3 mm). Eleven cases(39.3%) had respectively one accompanying vein and 17 cases(60.7%) had respectively two accompanying veins, with the mean diameter of (1.1±0.3) mm (0.8-1.3 mm). All the 28 flaps survived, the donor and recipient wounds healed in one stage, the appearances of the flaps were satisfactory, only linear scars remained in the donor sites, and the upper arm functions were not significantly affected. Follow up for 12-43 months showed that the flaps were soft with partially mucosalization, the reconstructed tongue and buccal cavity were in good shape, and the swallowing and language functions were satisfactory. The swallowing and language functions were retained to the greatest extent in 3 cases with near total tongue resection, although the functions were still significantly affected. There was no local recurrence of the tumor during follow-up. One case had regional lymph node metastasis, and further lymph node dissection and comprehensive treatment were performed, with satisfactory outcomes. Conclusions: The vascular pedicle of the radial collateral artery perforator flap has a constant anatomy, which can be prepared in different forms to improve the safety of the operation and minimize the donor site damage. It is an ideal choice for the repair of small and medium-sized defects after oral tumor surgery.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Perforator Flap/transplantation* ; Plastic Surgery Procedures ; Tongue Neoplasms/surgery* ; Arm/surgery* ; Mouth Neoplasms/surgery* ; Arteries ; Skin Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), also known as the multifactorial erythematous drug eruption, is a class of adverse reactions of the skin and mucous membranes primarily caused by drug allergy often involving the oral cavity, eyes, and external genital mucosa, generally accompanied by fever, and can be life-threatening in severe cases. In February 2022, the Department of Stomatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University admitted a patient with huge inflammatory hyperplasia of bilateral lingual margins secondary to SJS. Upon admission, no other obvious symptoms were observed except for tongue hyperplasia. The patient suffered from a severe adverse drug reaction caused by acetaminophen 2 months ago and was complicated by liver dysfunction and pulmonary infection. After 1 month of treatment and rehabilitation, he developed a secondary tongue mass and was subsequently admitted to Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Ward 2, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. After completing the examination, the tongue mass was surgically removed. After a follow-up of 11 months, the patient's condition was satisfactory and no temporary discomfort was observed. The case of tongue mass secondary to SJS is extremely rare. If a stomatologist encounters a similar case, we should carefully inquire about the drug allergy history and recent medication history, and be alert to whether or not they had adverse drug reactions recently.
Male ; Humans ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/drug therapy* ; Hyperplasia/pathology* ; Skin ; Drug Hypersensitivity/pathology* ; Tongue