[Screening of cancerous and precancerous lesions of the oral mucosa in an at-risk population]

Abstract

Early diagnosis of oral carcinomas allows a limitation of functional consequences of surgical treatment. A prospective study was designed in 270 alcoholic patients. We practiced a clinical examination of the oral cavity by a stomatologist followed by a Toluidin blue test. The clinical examination permitted to detect 1 carcinoma and 23 leukoplakias. The Toluidin blue test revealed one more carcinoma and two leukoplakias more. The early diagnosis of oral carcinomas in alcoholics patients gives them a better survival. The Toluidin blue test could be proposed as an aid to early diagnosis of these carcinomas.