fluorescence – Page 2 – Oral Cancer News

New optical oral cancer screening device should be developed

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 [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-05-14T16:09:40-07:00May, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Fluorescent probe for oral cancer

Source: www.physorg.com Author: UC Davis Approximately 43,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with tumors of the mouth, pharynx and larynx each year. The main risk factor is smoking, but a recent rise in cases has been linked to human papillomavirus. Most cases are not diagnosed until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. "There's a lot out there about breast, prostate and brain cancer, but people are not so aware about oral cancer and its devastating consequences," said Laura Marcu, a professor of biomedical engineering at UC Davis. "People don't think to look for it, and there isn't any routine screening." Marcu's laboratory collaborated with Dr. Gregory Farwell's group in the Department of Otolaryngology at the UC Davis Cancer Center to develop the fiber-optic probe. The probe stimulates molecules in the patient's tissues with a laser. Some of these molecules naturally respond by re-emitting fluorescent light. The device rapidly detects and analyzes this light using a process called "time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy" (TR-LIFS), which provides information about the types of molecules present. During surgery, blood can distort the intensity of the fluorescence signal but not its duration. By using sensitive measurements of the change in fluorescence over time, surgeons can see the tumor margins even as they are cutting the tissue. Based on encouraging results in animal tests, Marcu and Farwell's team recruited nine human volunteers from among patients who arrived at the UC Davis Medical Center for surgical therapy of the mouth, throat and larynx. They compared readings from [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-05-09T10:14:42-07:00May, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

The influence of patient education by the dental hygienist: acceptance of the fluorescence oral cancer exam

Source: J Dent Hyg, June 1, 2009; 83(3): 134-40 Author: M Paulis Purpose: Oral cancer frequently goes undetected in its early and most curable stages because no clinical signs or symptoms usually exist. This study assessed the effect patient education had on the patient's decision to accept or refuse a fluorescence oral cancer examination. Methods: Along with providing a routine clinical and white light oral cancer exam, a Visually Enhanced Lesion Scope (VELscope) was used to evaluate the patient's oral cavity. After gaining written consent, 100 patients at a university dental hygiene clinic were provided a survey that evaluated their risk factors, opinions, and knowledge regarding oral cancer. Upon assessing the patient's willingness to receive a free oral fluorescence examination, the survey questioned if being charged a fee for the exam would serve as a deterrent to receiving it. Regardless of acceptance or refusal of the exam, the patient was educated, first by a brochure, and then by discussion with the researcher, about oral cancer. Results: Overall, 92% of participants agreed to pay a fee for the VELscope exam. Of those who initially refused the VELscope exam, 78% agreed to the exam after being educated about oral cancer. Patients were very appreciative of both the education and technology offered to them. Conclusions: Dental professionals have a responsibility to educate their patients about oral cancer in order to enable them to make informed decisions about their oral and overall health. Additionally, patient education has a significant impact on patient acceptance of [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-01T08:09:40-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Trimira launches oral-cancer screening system for early diagnosis by dentists

Source: bioopticsworld.com Author: press release Trimira LLC (Houston, TX) has introduced a small, cordless, handheld device that it says enables early diagnosis of oral cancer. Called Identafi 3000, the device uses a three-wavelength optical illumination and visualization system to allow dental professionals to identify otherwise-invisible early cancers. This affordable device will aid in mouth, tongue, and lip cancer screening--enabling diagnosis of afflictions that have reached epidemic levels, due in part to the lack of effective, broad-based early detection systems for oral cancer screening. Identafi 3000 uses white, violet, and amber wavelengths of light to excite oral tissue in distinct ways. Biochemical changes can be monitored with fluorescence, while morphological changes can be monitored with reflectance. This multiple wavelength technology identifies abnormal tissue with more accuracy than the single color approaches currently on the market, according to Trimira. The ability to read metabolic and physiologic differences makes it easier to distinguish between normal and abnormal tissue. The combined system of fluorescence and reflectance uses the body's natural tissue properties as an adjunctive tool for oral mucosal examination. Identafi 3000 is supported by a national team of trained sales representatives and is available through most major U.S. dental dealers. Trimira LLC is a subsidiary of Remicalm LLC, a privately held medical diagnostic and imaging device company. Other subsidiaries are working on screening and diagnostic devices for skin, cervical, gastrointestinal, and bladder cancers. Remicalm's core technologies are based on high-speed, high-resolution capabilities from its patented optical processing technology platforms and include the ability [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-02-05T20:26:13-07:00February, 2009|Oral Cancer News|