Our Services
Oral & Facial Pathology
Expert diagnosis and surgical management of cysts, benign and malignant lesions, moles, and pre-cancerous conditions of the mouth, jaw, and face — with rapid assessment and clear, evidence-based advice.
Understanding the Condition
What Is Oral & Facial Pathology?
Oral and facial pathology encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal tissues, growths, and lesions affecting the mouth, jaw, face, and salivary glands. These range from entirely benign conditions — such as minor salivary gland swellings or fibrous lumps from trauma — to pre-cancerous changes and malignant disease requiring urgent management.
Many lesions are identified incidentally during a routine dental or medical check-up; others come to attention because of pain, swelling, difficulty swallowing, a change in appearance, or a non-healing ulcer. Whatever the presentation, accurate diagnosis is the essential first step — and biopsy or excision by an experienced specialist ensures both that the diagnosis is reliable and that any suspicious tissue is managed appropriately.
Conditions We Assess and Treat
- Oral ulcers and lesions not responding to conservative treatment
- White patches (leukoplakia) or red patches (erythroplakia) in the mouth
- Lumps, swellings, or changes in the jaw or face
- Skin lesions, moles, and pigmented lesions of the face and lips
- Jaw cysts — including dentigerous, radicular, odontogenic keratocysts, and others
- Salivary gland swellings and blocked ducts (ranula, mucocele)
- Benign tumours of the jaw bone (ameloblastoma, ossifying fibroma, giant cell lesions)
- Oral cancer and pre-cancerous conditions — with rapid referral to oncology where required
Assessment & Management
What Your Consultation Involves
A thorough clinical examination of the mouth, face, and neck, combined with any relevant imaging. Where tissue diagnosis is required, an incisional or excisional biopsy is arranged — performed in clinic under local anaesthetic, or in hospital under sedation or general anaesthetic depending on the site and size of the lesion.
Biopsy
Tissue sampling to achieve an accurate histopathological diagnosis. Where appropriate, Mr Bhatti performs excisional biopsy — removing the entire lesion at the same time as confirming the diagnosis, avoiding the need for a second procedure.
Jaw Cyst Enucleation & Marsupialisation
Jaw cysts can grow significantly before causing symptoms and may weaken the bone around them. Enucleation (complete removal) or marsupialisation (creating a window to allow drainage and shrinkage) are performed depending on size, location, and cyst type. Long-term radiographic follow-up is arranged.
Skin & Soft Tissue Lesion Excision
Excision of facial moles, benign skin tumours, lipomas, and other soft tissue lesions, with meticulous attention to aesthetics and scar placement. All excised tissue is sent for histopathological analysis as a matter of routine.
Rapid Pathway for Suspected Malignancy
Any patient presenting with features suggestive of oral or facial cancer is seen urgently, assessed thoroughly, and referred promptly into the appropriate cancer pathway. Mr Bhatti works closely with head and neck oncology teams at Barts Health NHS Trust.
“In oral pathology, early assessment is everything. A white patch or a non-healing ulcer should never be left to ‘see how it goes.’ Most turn out to be benign — but the ones that don't need to be caught quickly.”
— Mr Nabeel Bhatti
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are concerned about a lesion or growth in your mouth or on your face, please do not delay — contact us to arrange an assessment.