Lining of the cheeks and back of the lip, inside the mucosa lining beneath the teeth is buccal mucosa. Development of cancer cells in this area lead to carcinoma buccal mucosa, which is a type of oral cavity. Habit of chewing tobacco, smoking and alcohol consumption can increase the chances for developing cheek cancer.

Non healing ulcer in cheek, White or reddish patches inside mouth, difficulty in mouth opening, loose teeth or pain around teeth, severe ear pain, painless lump inside cheek or in neck. Biopsy for confirmation of disease and CT scan for extent of disease.

Surgery is recommended for early as well as advanced stage buccal mucosa cancer. Adjuvant radiotherapy or adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy is required depending upon histopathology report.

The buccal mucosa has tendency to invade adjacent structures such as upper and lower jaw, masticator (chewing) muscles, pterygoid muscles and plate. Surgical resection and reconstruction are more challenging particularly when cancer invades the masticator space, pterygoid muscles and plate and even more complicated when mouth opening is limited. For tumor involving masticator space, infratemporal fossa clearance apart from wide local excision can benefit the patient in term of local control.