A Multidisciplinary Approach in Head and Neck Cancer: A Case Report

Multidisciplinary team conferences (MDTC) significantly improve outcomes in complex malignancies such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, diagnostic delays in early-stage oral malignancies remain a substantial obstacle to optimal prognosis. A 28-year-old male with a history of substance use presented with persistent, severe tongue pain previously misdiagnosed as oral lichen planus and treated empirically for four months without symptom relief. Clinical and histopathological reassessment confirmed a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on the dorsal tongue. The patient underwent oncologic surgical resection, neck dissection, and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Post-treatment recovery was characterized by severe functional limitations, psychological distress, and substance relapse. Comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation—encompassing oral medicine specialists, head and neck oncologists, speech therapists, nutritionists, prosthodontists, and psychiatric support—facilitated long-term functional recovery, addiction cessation, and a disease-free state at the 2-year follow-up. This case highlights the vital role of oral medicine specialists within the MDTC framework, particularly in accurate differential diagnosis, reducing diagnostic delay, managing oral complications during cancer therapy, and orchestrating comprehensive long-term supportive care.