摘要INTRODUCTIONOral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is the most common cancer in the oral cavity and is characterized by insidious and high lymphatic metastasis. Consequently, OTSCC has a higher risk and worse prognosis than other oral cancers.1 Initially, OTSCC incidence was thought to be higher in the elderly population owing to the accumulation of genetic mutations and risk factors such as long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, and betel nut use.2–4 However, recent reports have suggested increasing OTSCC incidence among younger age groups.5 The lack of precancerous staging and practical early diagnostic markers for OTSCC has prevented the establishment of an efficient and accurate early warning system. The early warning system, which should be noninvasive or minimally invasive, can be used in high-risk groups to enable a diagnosis before the lesions are fully formed or after surgery. The detection of cancer risk before the lesions are fully formed or before the metastases become established after surgery is of great clinical significance.