Dr. Koos manages a wide variety of pathology associated with the oral cavity. Patients are often referred by their dentist or physician for the management of soft or hard tissue abnormalities for biopsy. Soft tissue lesions generally involve ulcers, patches, bumps, and discoloration on the gums, lips, cheek, tongue or salivary glands. Hard tissue pathology encompasses alterations in teeth or bone. Abnormal changes in the mouth typically are detected early as the oral cavity is readily accessible.  Oral biopsy in the mouth, soft palate, and throat can be carried out comfortably with sedation and  usually minimal recovery time.  Biopsies of the mouth, face, and throat are all sent to a board certified head and neck pathologist who specializes in the microscopic/histologic analysis of only oral and maxillofacial pathology of the mouth, head and neck and has the specific expertise to accurately read these specialized tissues properly without missing crucial details.

Tissue changes do not always mean cancer, but certainly need to evaluated promptly to determine the cause. Since oral cancer kills one person every hour, twenty-four hours a day, in North America, Dr. Koos strongly encourages performing self-examinations monthly to aid in early recognition as well as routine annual office screening utilizing the VELscope. The things to evaluate when performing self-examinations are.

• red or white patches of the oral tissues
• a sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
• an abnormal lump or thickening of the tissues of the mouth
• chronic sore throat or hoarseness
• difficulty in chewing or swallowing
• a mass or lump in the neck

Hard tissue lesions are often unrecognized by patients until a radiographic image sheds light on their existence. At ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio in downtown Chicago, Illinois, patients can rest assured that they will have the best imaging available for pathology via the iCat 3-D cone beam CT scanner.