Diagnostic aids for detection of oral precancerous conditions

Abstract

Oral cancer has a tendency to be detected at late stage which is detrimental to the patients because of its high mortality and morbidity rates. Early detection of oral cancer is therefore important to reduce the burden of this devastating disease. In this review article, the most common oral precancerous lesions are discussed and the importance of early diagnosis is emphasized. In addition, the most common non-invasive oral cancer devices that can aid the general practitioners in early diagnosis are also discussed.

Figure 1

TB stain on a suspicious lesion at the right lateral border of the tongue. (a) An erythroplakia lesion on right lateral border of the tongue of a 52-year-old female. (b) Same lesion after application of the TB stain. TB was retained in some areas and not others. A biopsy was taken from the dark stained blue area which showed a well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma lesion. TB, toluidine blue.

Figure 2

The use of Identafi optical system on a suspicious lesion showing loss of fluorescence and increase vascularity. (a) Picture of a non-healing ulcer on the right lateral border of the tongue of a 62-year-old male taken with the white reflectance (regular light) Identafi 3000 DentalEZ optical device. (b) Application of the Identafi DentalEZ device with violet fluorescent light shows dark area (loss of autoflurescence) in suspicious areas. (c) Application of the Identafi DentalEZ with the green amber reflectance light show increase vascularity in the suspicious areas. A biopsy taken from this area showed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.