Lip cancer: a review.

Dental examinations should routinely include examination of the lips by visual inspection and palpation. The primary risk factor for lip cancer is actinic damage. Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip accounts for about nine per cent of all oral cancers, but there has been a downward trend in the number of cases reported from 1973 to 1984. This trend may be due to the increased use of sunscreens. The clinical presentation and management of lip cancer are discussed.