Health and disease states are dictated or accompanied by corresponding alterations in genes, mRNAs, proteins and metabolites. Over the past few decades, various ‘omic’ technologies have been developed to study the genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome respectively. Since oral cancers are one of the leading causes of death globally, much of research work has attempted to study the analytes in cancerous conditions by utilizing the various ‘omic’ modalities. These studies have aimed to understand the pathogenesis of head and neck cancers, aid in their diagnosis, devise new treatment strategies, and improve prognosis. It is imperative for surgeons and pathologists to be in line with the updates pertaining to various ‘omic’ methodologies available for studying the analytes. The present review comprehensively describes the development of various ‘omic’ technologies, including- genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, while emphasizing their applicability in oral cancers.

Lipoma is a benign soft tissue mesenchymal tumour, slow growing, usually involving the trunk and proximal parts of extremities and occasionally found within the oral cavity. Intra-oral lipomas are rare and so is its variant fibrolipoma. Buccal mucosa, tongue, the floor of mouth, palate, gingiva, lips and retromolar area are commonly affected. The tongue which is devoid of fat cells is a rare site for lipoma. Here, we report a 36-year-old female patient with a complaint of a painless swelling on the anterior tongue which was present for 5 years with a gradual increase in size, difficulty in speaking, chewing food and having an aesthetic concern. Surgical excision was done and histopathologically diagnosed as fibrolipoma of the tongue. Although rare but fibrolipoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses among the lesions affecting the tongue.

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