I have a persistent (comes and goes) lesion on the rear left side of my tongue, on or near my lingual tonsil. It is concerning me because a dentist looked at it, wasn't too concerned but said that if it wasn't gone in a couple of weeks to have it checked out to rule out cancer. (After I asked if it could be cancer.)

At times it really hurts, and feels deep, way back in my throat. If I had to show where I felt the pain, I would poke under my chin, just next to the rear of my left jawbone. It's hard to describe, but it's deep in there. Looking at the tongue, you hardly notice the lesion (though the dentist totally saw it).

I had my internal medicine doc take a look at it, but he used tongue depressors and basically overlooked it. At one point, he actually pinched the area with the depressor without realizing it while trying to get a better look further back in my mouth. He said it looked like a cold sore/HPV (Whcih I've never had before) and gave me a prescription for antivirals. I am concerned he didn't know what he was looking for and don't trust his cursory inspection. I'd like to be seen by a specialist.

Now I want to know whether it would make more sense to see an ENT or an oral surgeon to have a look at the lesion? My first thought was an ENT, but after the doctor's office experience I called a dental office and they suggested I call an oral surgeon right away.

Is it better to see an ENT or an oral surgeon, or should I pursue both? I am sure it will take me a bit to get an appiontment with either, and I would rather get answers sooner than later. I feel paranoid but at the same time, I don't want to mess around. I continue to take the antivirals that were prescribed to me, but I'm not sure why I am taknig them. The doc didn't even test me for HPV before writing the prescription.