Major salivary gland cancers, minor salivary gland cancers (palate, lip, mucosa), lymphomas, melanoma of the lip, and basal cell carcinoma of the lip are all examples of which category of oral cancers?

• A. Non-SCC oral cancers
• B. SCC oral cancers
• C. Benign oral tumors
• D. Salivary gland diseases

Answer: (A)

In the mouth, most cancers come from the squamous lining of the mucosa, so they’re squamous cell carcinomas. The cancers listed—salivary gland cancers, lymphomas, melanoma of the lip, and basal cell carcinoma of the lip—do not arise from the squamous epithelium. They originate from other tissues (salivary glands, lymphoid tissue, melanocytes, or basal skin cells) and therefore are classified as non-SCC oral cancers. This distinction matters because non-SCC oral cancers have different origins, behaviors, and treatment approaches compared with squamous cell carcinoma.