Source: worldental.org
Author: staff

Oral cancer is on the rise all around the world. According to the American Cancer Society there are almost 130,000 lethal cases that are attributed to this cancer disease annually. As such the need is every growing to better develop the methods for detecting oral cancer at an earlier stage.

There is no satisfactory mechanism that currently exists to screen and detect early changes of the oral cavity in the general population.

The situation is even more challenging in low resource areas and in developing countries, where a combination of the lack of expertise and the inadequate resources for oral cancer screening can mean even longer diagnosis delays, which can lead to higher mortality and morbidity.

Oral cancer screening normally involves visual inspection of the entire tissue surface at risk under white light illumination. However, a number of oral cancer screening products have been designed to improve diagnostic outcomes have been commercialized and developed.

Researchers continue to experiment with new and better ways to more accurately locate and distinguish potentially malignant lesions using advanced optical technologies.

However, developing countries pose unique a challenge when it comes to a device that can be used by individuals with limited clinical expertise that is affordable.

The goal is to provide a cost effective opportunity for oral cancer screening that will work with the persons available in those health systems. That means that you have to have a very low cost, battery powered device. No one has developed on yet but it is being worked on. Since there is a big shortage of skilled healthcare workers in these countries, it should be some type of objective image interpretation.

The study, which was conducted at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India, included 76 patients who had suspicious oral lesions along with 33 healthy volunteers without and with a history of tobacco use. Each patient was given a conventional exam of the oral cavity by a neck and head specialist.

Also, the presence of either or submucasous fibrosis or melanosis was noted if it was visible. After clinical examination, fluorescence images and digital reflectance were obtained from contralateral clinically normal and clinically abnormal sites.

This is a very good development for the detection of oral cancer. One group has been working with auto fluorescence guided visualization to enhance the detection of oral cancer. This device is a little cumbersome, while others is are little easier to use. It is the kind of technology that is important, especially since it is a multifocal disease. The ability to be able to identify a specific high risk group is significant.