Sammanfattning
BACKGROUND – Early referral of oral cancer improves the prognosis, whilst a delay may affect mortality. The timespan between the first visit with the general practitioner and referral for further diagnosis/treatment is called "doctor’s delay".
CASE STUDY – A patient’s course is presented spanning 3,5 months from first contact with the general dental practitioner (GDP) till finalizing the diagnosis of osteosarcoma of the maxilla. The course is prolonged partly because the early signs of cancer are not recognized and partly due to an inconclusive biopsy.
CONCLUSION – Early signs of oral cancer may be mistaken for a benign lesion. When facing uncharacteristic infection combined with irregular radiological translucency and resorptions, the GDP must consider malignancy. The GDP may reduce “doctor’s delay” by timely referral of suspected malignancy and thereby reduce the mortality.