Hello doctor, I have been having oral symptoms for the last six months or so. I also have been a heavy drinker for the past seven to eight years. I discontinued this in January of this year. Started in the fall of last year with allergy, cold symptoms and has continued to the present day even getting worse. Every day without relief. I noticed the white patches in the throat and reddened soft palate. I have also had irritated scratchiness in the palate as well. My concern is oral cancer. I have had one of the white patches biopsied and it was diagnosed as follicular lymphoid hyperplasia. Everyone says the soft palate is normal but I am not convinced because of the length and duration. I underwent allergy testing of which I had none. Also, I had an endoscopy to check for reflux which also was negative. The last doctor I saw said he would remove my tonsils. I have had imaging tests of which nothing has shown up. Could something be hiding or could this be precancerous? Also, I get white pimple sores that pop up and then go away only to come back again in the same place. Not sure what I need to do next but my prior alcohol abuse has me concerned with these symptoms. I realize these symptoms are all over the place but it seems oral cancer can vary quite a bit. Can you advise, please?
Hello. It is good that you stopped drinking. Meanwhile, I do not find any cancerous lesion in the pictures you sent (attachment removed to protect patient identity). However, none of the pictures show the posterior pharyngeal wall. If you can take a better picture it will be appreciated. Can you detail your symptoms more? Can you share the reports of your allergy testing? Did you change your place of stay or work recently?  Your symptoms seem to suggest an allergic cause and the constant allergy can be a cause for the chronic inflammation of the throat. Please revert to me with all details. Please upload the CT and MRI reports as well as the biopsy report. Revert with more information to an ENT otolaryngologist online -->