Tongue Transverse Muscle Cancer

The transverse muscle of the tongue is one of four intrinsic muscles that shape the tongue. It forms a thin sheet running horizontally in the deep layer of the tongue’s body, just under the mucous lining. When you look at a cross-section of the tongue, these fibers span from the center to each side, helping change the tongue’s shape without moving its position in the mouth.

Anatomy of the Transverse Muscle of the Tongue

Structure & Location

The transverse muscle of the tongue is one of the four intrinsic tongue muscles, entirely contained within the tongue substance. Its fibers run horizontally from the central median fibrous septum to the lateral margins of the tongue, allowing it to change shape without external attachments WikipediaTeachMeAnatomy.

Origin

The muscle originates from the median fibrous septum, a vertical sheet of connective tissue that divides the tongue into right and left halves. This septum serves as a sturdy anchor for muscle fibers to exert inward pulling forces Wikipedia.

Insertion

Fibers insert into the submucosal fibrous tissue along the sides of the tongue. When these fibers contract, they pull the sides inward, narrowing the tongue while simultaneously elongating it Wikipedia.

Blood Supply

Arterial blood is delivered primarily by the deep lingual branches of the lingual artery, itself a branch of the external carotid artery. These vessels ensure a rich oxygen supply to meet the muscle’s high metabolic demands during speech, swallowing, and mastication Kenhub.

Nerve Supply

Motor control comes from the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII), which innervates all intrinsic tongue muscles except the palatoglossus. Damage to this nerve can cause tongue weakness, atrophy, and deviation toward the injured side Wikipedia.

Functions

The transverse muscle plays a key role in fine-tuning tongue shape and movement:

1. Narrowing the tongue to fit between the teeth.

2. Elongating the tongue to reach different parts of the mouth.

3. Forming and controlling the bolus (food ball) during chewing.

4. Articulating precise speech sounds by shaping the tongue tip.

5. Directing food and saliva posteriorly for safe swallowing.

6. Aiding in self-cleaning movements that help maintain oral hygiene TeachMeAnatomy.

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Types of Tongue Transverse Muscle Cancer

Cancer in the transverse muscle is almost always an invasion by a surface malignancy rather than a primary muscle tumor. Key histological types include:

1. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

   • Arises from the flat, scale-like cells lining the tongue surface.

   • Accounts for ~90% of oral tongue cancers Moffitt Cancer CenterNCBI.

2. Verrucous Carcinoma

   • A low-grade SCC variant, grows slowly but can deeply invade tissues.

   • Rarely spreads to distant sites Cancer Research UK.

3. Minor Salivary Gland Carcinoma

   • Originates in the scattered salivary gland tissue of the tongue.

   • Includes mucoepidermoid and adenoid cystic subtypes NCBI.

4. Mucosal Melanoma

   • Very rare, arising from pigment-producing melanocytes in the tongue.

   • Tends to be aggressive with a poorer prognosis Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

5. Lymphoma

   • Malignancy of lymphoid tissue; extremely uncommon in the tongue.

   • Often part of systemic disease rather than a primary tongue tumor Moffitt Cancer Center.

6. Sarcoma

   • Rare connective-tissue cancers (e.g., rhabdomyosarcoma).

   • May originate from muscle or surrounding stromal tissue PMC.

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Causes (Risk Factors)

While the exact trigger for muscle invasion is complex, established risk factors for tongue cancer include:

• Tobacco smoking (cigarettes, pipes, cigars)

• Chewing tobacco and betel quid

• Heavy alcohol consumption

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (especially HPV-16)

• Poor oral hygiene

• Ill-fitting dentures or chronic mechanical irritation

• High-temperature beverages

• Nutritional deficiencies (vitamins A, C, iron)

• Cirrhosis of the liver

• Syphilis infection

• Immunosuppression (HIV/AIDS, transplant patients)

• Genetic predisposition (family history)

• Occupational exposures (wood dust, formaldehyde)

• Radiation exposure to head and neck

• Chronic oral mucosal lesions (leukoplakia, lichen planus)

• Older age (>55 years)

• Male gender

• Betel nut (areca) chewing

• Periodontal disease

• Obesity and metabolic syndrome Mayo ClinicMoffitt Cancer Center.

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Symptoms

Early signs are often subtle, becoming more pronounced as cancer invades muscle:

1. Persistent tongue sore or ulcer that won’t heal

2. A lump or thickened area in the tongue

3. Pain or tenderness in the tongue or mouth

4. Bleeding from the tongue without injury

5. Difficulty chewing or moving the tongue

6. Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

7. Numbness or altered sensation in the tongue

8. Ear pain on the same side (referred pain)

9. Speech changes, slurred or imprecise articulation

10. Unexplained weight loss

11. Metallic taste or taste changes

12. White or red patches (leukoplakia/erythroplakia)

13. Chronic bad breath (halitosis)

14. Drooling or difficulty controlling saliva

15. Jaw stiffness or limited mouth opening

16. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

17. Feeling of fullness or foreign body in throat

18. Difficulty wearing dentures

19. Ulceration reaching muscle causing deeper pain

20. Progressive fatigue and malaise Mayo Clinic.

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Diagnostic Tests

Accurate diagnosis combines clinical, imaging, and laboratory methods:

1. Comprehensive oral exam by dentist or ENT

2. Detailed medical history (risk factors, symptoms)

3. Incisional biopsy of suspicious lesion

4. Excisional biopsy for small lesions

5. Brush biopsy (transepithelial cytology)

6. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of neck nodes

7. MRI of the tongue and floor of mouth

8. CT scan with contrast for bone involvement

9. PET-CT to detect metastases

10. Panendoscopy (nasopharyngolaryngoscopy)

11. Toluidine blue staining to highlight dysplasia

12. Immunohistochemistry for tumor markers (p16 for HPV)

13. HPV DNA/RNA testing on tissue samples

14. Ultrasound of neck lymph nodes

15. Chest X-ray or CT for pulmonary metastases

16. Complete blood count (CBC) and metabolic panel

17. Liver function tests (metastatic workup)

18. Nutritional assessment (dietician evaluation)

19. Dental evaluation (to plan surgical/radiation therapy)

20. Margin assessment during surgery (frozen section) NCBIPathologyOutlines.com.

 Non-Pharmacological Treatments

Beyond drugs, management often requires a multidisciplinary approach:

1. Surgery (tumor resection, glossectomy)

2. Radiation therapy (external beam)

3. Brachytherapy (local radiation implants)

4. Photodynamic therapy

5. Cryotherapy (tissue freezing)

6. Laser ablation

7. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS)

8. Transoral laser microsurgery Wikipedia

9. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound healing

10. Speech therapy (articulation, swallowing)

11. Swallowing rehabilitation exercises

12. Nutritional counseling and enteral feeding support

13. Physical therapy (neck and shoulder mobility)

14. Occupational therapy (daily living skills)

15. Psychological counseling / psychotherapy

16. Support groups and peer mentoring

17. Acupuncture for symptom relief

18. Mindfulness meditation and relaxation techniques

19. Yoga for stress reduction and mobility

20. Massage therapy for pain and lymphedema

21. Music/art therapy for emotional support

22. Hypnosis for anxiety and pain control

23. Oral hygiene optimization (professional cleanings)

24. Smoking cessation programs

25. Alcohol cessation counseling

26. Dental prosthesis adjustment to avoid trauma

27. Prosthetic tongue reconstruction (palatal prosthesis)

28. Genetic counseling (if familial risk)

29. Palliative care planning for advanced disease

30. Home health nursing for wound and tube care Verywell Health.

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Drugs

Chemotherapy and targeted agents commonly used in head & neck SCC:

1. Cisplatin

2. Carboplatin

3. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)

4. Docetaxel

5. Paclitaxel

6. Methotrexate

7. Capecitabine

8. Bleomycin

9. Cyclophosphamide

10. Cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor)

11. Erlotinib (EGFR TKI)

12. Gefitinib (EGFR TKI)

13. Nivolumab (PD-1 inhibitor)

14. Pembrolizumab (PD-1 inhibitor)

15. Ifosfamide

16. Oxaliplatin

17. Doxorubicin

18. Vincristine

19. Topotecan

20. Thalidomide (angiogenesis inhibitor) Comprehensive Cancer InformationNCBI.

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Surgeries

Operative options vary by tumor size, location, and stage:

1. Wide local excision of the tumor

2. Partial glossectomy (removal of part of the tongue)

3. Hemiglossectomy (one-half of the tongue)

4. Total glossectomy (entire mobile tongue)

5. Selective neck dissection (removal of certain lymph node levels)

6. Modified radical neck dissection (preserving some structures)

7. Radical neck dissection (all lymph nodes plus sternocleidomastoid, IJV, spinal accessory nerve)

8. Free-flap reconstruction (radial forearm, anterolateral thigh)

9. Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap

10. Tracheostomy (to secure airway when needed) NCBI.

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Prevention Strategies

Reducing risk involves lifestyle and medical measures:

1. Avoid all tobacco (smoking and chewing)

2. Limit alcohol intake or abstain

3. Maintain excellent oral hygiene

4. Regular dental check-ups (every 6 months)

5. HPV vaccination (Gardasil 9 for HPV-16/18/31/33/45/52/58) Comprehensive Cancer Information

6. Avoid betel nut/areca chewing

7. Protect against radiation exposure in head & neck

8. Wear protective gear in occupational settings

9. Balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, antioxidants

10. Promptly address chronic oral lesions (leukoplakia, ulcers) Mayo Clinic.

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When to See a Doctor

Seek medical attention if you experience:

• Any tongue ulcer or sore lasting longer than 2 weeks

• New or growing lump in the tongue or neck

• Persistent tongue pain, bleeding, or numbness

• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking

• Unintended weight loss or fatigue

Early evaluation by a dentist, ENT specialist, or oral surgeon improves the chance of successful treatment Mayo Clinic.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What exactly is transverse muscle of the tongue cancer?
   It’s cancer—in most cases a squamous cell carcinoma—that invades the horizontal (transverse) muscle fibers within the body of the tongue, affecting its shape-changing ability and function.

2. How common is tongue cancer?
   Tongue cancer represents about 25–30% of all oral cavity cancers, with roughly 90% of these being squamous cell carcinomas NCBI.

3. Can tongue cancer spread to lymph nodes?
   Yes. Early invasion of neck lymph nodes (levels I–III) is common, which is why neck imaging and selective neck dissection are often performed.

4. Is HPV-related tongue cancer different?
   HPV-16 positive cancers (more common in the base of tongue) respond better to treatment and have a slightly improved prognosis, but for mobile (anterior two-thirds) tongue, HPV status has less clear impact NCBI.

5. What is the five-year survival rate?
   Depends on stage: ~70–80% for early (T1–T2), dropping to ~30–40% for advanced (T3–T4) disease.

6. Are imaging scans painful?
   No—MRI, CT, and PET scans are noninvasive, though they may require lying still and sometimes injection of contrast dye.

7. What are side effects of radiation therapy?
   Common effects include mucositis (mouth sores), dry mouth (xerostomia), taste changes, and risk of dental decay.

8. Will I lose my ability to speak?
   Partial tongue surgery can alter speech, but speech therapy and reconstructive techniques often restore intelligibility.

9. Can I chew normally after treatment?
   Many patients resume normal chewing, especially with supportive nutrition therapy and dental prosthetics when needed.

10. Is reconstruction always required?
    Small tumors may not need flap reconstruction; larger resections often use free flaps to restore form and function.

11. How long does treatment take?
    Surgery may require a single hospital stay; radiation typically spans 6–7 weeks; chemotherapy schedules vary by regimen.

12. Will I need a feeding tube?
    Some patients require temporary enteral feeding (PEG tube) if swallowing is severely affected during treatment.

13. Can tongue cancer recur?
    Yes—close follow-up with exams and imaging is crucial, especially in the first two years after treatment.

14. What lifestyle changes help?
    Quitting tobacco and alcohol, improving diet, and maintaining good oral hygiene all support recovery and reduce recurrence risk.

15. Where can I find support?
    Cancer centers, speech and swallowing support groups, and online forums (e.g., American Cancer Society) offer resources and community Verywell Health.

Disclaimer: Each person’s journey is unique, treatment plan, life style, food habit, hormonal condition, immune system, chronic disease condition, geological location, weather and previous medical  history is also unique. So always seek the best advice from a qualified medical professional or health care provider before trying any treatments to ensure to find out the best plan for you. This guide is for general information and educational purposes only. Regular check-ups and awareness can help to manage and prevent complications associated with these diseases conditions. If you or someone are suffering from this disease condition bookmark this website or share with someone who might find it useful! Boost your knowledge and stay ahead in your health journey. We always try to ensure that the content is regularly updated to reflect the latest medical research and treatment options. Thank you for giving your valuable time to read the article.

The article is written by Team Rxharun and reviewed by the Rx Editorial Board Members

Last Updated: April 24, 2025.

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