Question

A nurse is obtaining a history and performing a physical assessment of a client who has cancer of the tongue. Which clinical findings should the nurse expect to identify?

a. leukoplakia
b. alterations in taste
c. enlarged cervical lymph nodes

Answer 1

In a client with tongue cancer, a nurse should expect to find leukoplakia, alterations in taste, and enlarged cervical lymph nodes as common clinical findings. The correct option is a.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse assessing a client who has cancer of the tongue should expect to identify several clinical findings associated with this condition. The nurse may observe leukoplakia, which are white patches on the tongue that cannot be rubbed off and are often precancerous.

Additionally, an alteration in taste or a decreased ability to taste, known as dysgeusia, is another common symptom due to the involvement of the tongue and its taste buds.

Lastly, the nurse might find enlarged cervical lymph nodes, indicating the potential spread of cancer cells or an immune response to the tumor.

These clinical findings align with symptoms such as unusual lumps or swelling in the tongue, pain, and ulceration, which can be signs of tongue cancer. The correct option is a.