Oral cancer diagnostics: An overview

Abstract

Cancer was first mentioned in medicine texts by Egyptians. Ancient Indians studied oral cancer in great detail under Susruta. Cancer has continued to be a challenge to physicians from ancient times to the present. Over the years, cancer underwent a shift in management from radical surgeries toward a more preventive approach. Early diagnosis is vital in reducing cancer-associated mortality especially with oral cancer. Even though the mainstay of oral cancer diagnosis still continues to be a trained clinician and histopathologic examination of malignant tissues. Translating innovation in technological advancements in diagnostic aids for oral cancer will require both improved decision-making and a commitment toward optimizing cost, skills, turnover time between capturing data and obtaining a useful result. The present review describes the conventional to most advanced diagnostic modalities used as oral cancer diagnostics. It also includes the new technologies available and the future trends in oral cancer diagnostics.

Keywords: Autofluorescence; brush biopsy; oral cancer; tissue reflectance; transepithelial cytology.