Oral cancer is the second malignant tumour occurring in the head and neck region after laryngeal cancer. Approximately 95% of the cases are squamous cell carcinoma of varying degrees of maturity. Other malignant tumours are relatively rare. Malignant tumours that originate from small salivary glands are usually found on the hard palate and in the floor of the mouth. Melanomas are rare and show less tendency to form ulcerations than carcinomas. Lymphomas usually take the form of smooth tumours - non-painful, covered by an unchanged mucous membrane.