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Introduction: Early detection of oral cancer is one of the most efficient ways to reduce the high mortality from this disease because of the ready accessibility of the oral cavity. We need to devise urgent diagnostic tools to detect early oral premalignant and malignant lesions. Aim: The aim of the present study was to grade the oral lesions in an attempt toward developing a novel cytological grading system. Further, morphometric analysis of cellular parameters was also performed to compare their significance in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital catering to the low socioeconomic population. Patients presenting in the various Out Patient Departments with suspicious oral lesions were evaluated by cytology in the Department of Pathology. Results: A total of 72 patients were evaluated with a mean age of 43.54 ± 10.35 years. The involvement of the buccal mucosa was the most common site of oral lesions. Cytologically, the lesions were graded according to the oral/oro-pharyngeal cytology grading system into grades A to F. Cyto-morphometric analysis showed an increasing trend in mean nuclear diameter from benign to malignant cases while the mean cytoplasmic diameter decreased, value of P < 0.05 was observed indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Cytological features of pleomorphism are a unique feature in oral carcinoma reflecting intracellular alterations in cells. Grading of lesions according to cytological characteristics can be helpful in standardizing the reporting of the oral lesion. However, our study was restricted by limited data; we emphasize more extensive studies to assess the usefulness and applicability of such a grading system. We also conclude that the use of cytomorphometry can improve the diagnostic reliability of exfoliative cytology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Head and neck cancer remains a challenging disease that is increasing in incidence with the majority of patients diagnosed at an advanced stage where 5-year survival is approximately 50%. Current approaches including oral-brush biopsies, fluorescence-based technologies,  and salivary molecular profiling have demonstrated some success; however, cost, ease of use, and accuracy remain limiting factors. Areas covered: This is a profile of a novel, easy to use oral rinse point-of-care (POC) test to aid in the diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Background science related to the challenge of oral and oropharyngeal cancer and natural history of diagnostic aids for this disease are provided. Results of studies performed for validation of a POC and laboratory test are also discussed. Expert commentary: The POC test has been validated through a case : control clinical study and a prospective European trial, using version 1.0 (v1.0), which have demonstrated consistent performance including a > 90% negative predictive value, with a sensitivity of 80%. The assay was designed to identify malignant lesions in the oral cavity and oropharynx by improving upon standard clinical assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Traditional Medical Complementary Therapies is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Oral cancer is a serious problem owing to its poor prognosis and destruction of patients' eating ability as well as facial appearance. Epidemiological studies can provide aetiological clues for prevention. The prevalence of oral cancer in densely populated cities in eastern China is unclear. The aim of the study is to analyse the incidence rates of oral cancer in Shanghai over the period 2003-2012 and estimate the temporal trends.Methods: Cases of oral cancer were retrieved from the Shanghai Cancer Registry system in the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention for the years 2003 to 2012. Information on the corresponding population was obtained from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security. Age-standardised incidence rates were directly calculated according to the world standard population. An annual percent change model was employed to analyse the temporal trends of cancer incidence.Results: A total of 3860 oral cancer cases were reported, representing 0.69% of all malignancies in Shanghai during the 10-year study period. The mean age at diagnosis was 64 years. The age-standardised incidence rate was 1.34 per 100,000 person-years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.41. Annually, the incidence rates increased by 3.83 and 2.54% for men and women, respectively. The increase was most noticeable in males aged 45-64 years.Conclusion: In Shanghai, the oral cancer incidence is relatively low. However, it is continuously increasing, especially among middle-aged males. This finding urges further investigations on the risk factors of oral cancer in this population, especially on changes in living patterns, such as the smoking, drinking, and dietary habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oral cancer is among the most prevalent cancers in the world. Moreover, it is one of the major health problems and causes of death in many regions of the world. The traditional treatment modalities include surgical removal, radiation therapy, systemic chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods. In recent decades, there has been significant interest in intraoral site‐specific chemoprevention via local drug delivery using polymeric systems. Because of its easy accessibility and clear visibility, the oral mucosa is amenable for local drug delivery. A variety of polymeric systems—such as gels, tablets, films, patches, injectable systems (e.g., millicylindrical implants, microparticles, and in situ‐forming depots), and nanosized carriers (e.g., polymeric nanoparticles, nanofibers, polymer–drug conjugates, polymeric micelles, nanoliposomes, nanoemulsions, and polymersomes)—have been developed and evaluated for the local delivery of natural and synthetic chemopreventive agents. The findings of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies and the positive outcome of clinical trials demonstrate that intraoral site‐specific drug delivery is an attractive, highly effective and patient‐friendly strategy for the management of oral cancer. Intraoral site‐specific drug delivery provides unique therapeutic advantages when compared to systemic chemotherapy. Moreover, intraoral drug delivery systems are self‐administrable and can be removed when needed, increasing patient compliance. This article covers important aspects and advances related to the design, development, and efficacy of polymeric systems for intraoral site‐specific drug delivery. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 1383–1413, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature assessing potential salivary biomarkers of oral cancer and pre-cancer and discuss emerging issues and challenges in relation to oral cancer and pre-cancer diagnostics.Materials and methods: Search for articles involved the Medline, PubMed, and EMBASE. Specific terms were used from January 1995 to March 2017 by three experts.Results: This search collected 270 articles, of which 105 articles such as reviews, case reports, news, letter to editor, etc. in first round and 117 articles such as publications in other languages than English, non-human studies, etc. were excluded. The remaining 48 articles considered analyzing whole saliva as well as specific gland saliva. Thirty-one studies considered oral stimuli such as eating, drinking, and oral hygiene practices for varied periods of time prior to sample collection. The time of collection of saliva was morning in most studies, but the exact time of collection was not mentioned. Three studies showed to have evaluated the whole saliva without centrifugation. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry were the most commonly used methods. Most of the potential salivary biomarkers of oral cancer are salivary proteins.Conclusion: Combination approach of salivary biomarkers could be used as screening tool to improve early detection and diagnostic precision of oral pre-cancer and cancer.Clinical relevance: The current findings are of importance for clinicians and researchers to mitigate the challenges in salivary-based diagnosis of oral cancer and to evaluate reliable, specific, and sensitive salivary biomarkers for oral pre-cancer and cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Aberrant sialylation is accepted as a carcinogenic biomarker. In previous work, fluorescently labeled wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) distinguished between cancerous and normal oral biopsies. The purpose of this study was to investigate WGA‐fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) as a point‐of‐care tool for detecting oral malignant and dysplastic lesions in vivo. Methods: Subject recruitment was divided into two groups: (1) the clinically normal oral mucosa group; or (2) the presence of clinically suspicious oral lesion(s) group. A WGA‐FITC solution was topically applied to observable lesions or to half the subject's mouth (sagittal plane) if lesions were absent. Fluorescent molecular imaging was used to evaluate WGA‐FITC localization. Results: Fluorescent imaging in 55 subjects demonstrated that WGA‐FITC could detect histopathologically‐confirmed cancerous and dysplastic lesions with high sensitivity (100% and 81%, respectively) and specificity (82%). Conclusion: This study supports in vivo fluorescent molecular imaging of WGA‐FITC to visualize aberrant sialic acid expression associated with carcinogenesis. This technique resulted in the immediate chairside detection of oral cancerous and dysplastic lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: The lack of information among the population regarding the existence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the lack of attention and expertise in examining the oral cavity of dentists and clinicians still remain very worrying and could explain the high incidence of OSCC. The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of awareness of OSCC among 600 participants from Southern Italy. Materials and Methods: A 13-question survey was prepared and distributed to 600 participants divided into two subgroups, the first one of 300 patients referring to the Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive, and Odontostomatological Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, for the treatment of dental pathologies, and the second one of 300 patients referring to the Department of Internal Medicine of the Second University of Naples for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Statistical analysis consisted in the calculation of percentages related to the answers given by patients. Comparison of percentages was after performed between the two subgroups. Result: Only 175 participants (29.1%) knew about the existence of pathologies which can affect the oral mucosa, and only 46 (7.6%) were aware that carcinoma can arise in the oral cavity; 345 (57,5%) stated that they had periodical dental visits, at least once a year but none of them stated they had a visit for the identification of oral carcinomas. Conclusion: The data acquired must be taken into consideration to outline essential socio-healthcare educational projects on carcinoma and its risk factors, training programs to increase dentists and clinicians' competences, and to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of oral carcinoma screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sampling of suspect oral lesions in the general dental clinic may increase early carcinoma detection thus oral cancer survival rates. One means of lesion sampling that is an alternative to incisional biopsy is cytological scraping. MicroRNA alterations are also being explored as a means of diagnosing carcinoma as an alternative to histopathology.Methods: We obtained cytological scrapings using 10 strokes ('light') or 40 strokes ('heavy') from the buccal mucosa of one healthy subject using a dermatological curette. MicroRNA was isolated from oral cytological scrapings immediately, or the scrapings were stored in buffer or RNA later, at 4°C, room temperature or 36°C, from 1 to 7 days prior to RNA isolation. All scrape comparisons and test conditions were conducted in triplicate. MicroRNAs were measured using qRT-PCR.Results: MicroRNAs can be obtained from cytological scrapings independent of the number of strokes and can be measured using qRT-PCR after storage under all conditions tested.Conclusion: MicroRNAs are robust to a wide range of storage conditions that bodes well for use of cytological scrapings to be of use in a clinical setting as a chair side sampling method for suspect oral lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To reduce oral cancer mortality, an organized, population-based screening program for the early detection of oral premalignancy and oral cancer was designed for high-risk individuals with habits of betel quid chewing, cigarette smoking, or both. The objective of this report was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this program in reducing the incidence of advanced disease and deaths from oral cancer.Methods: A nationwide, population-based screening program for oral cancer has been conducted in Taiwan since 2004. Residents aged ≥ 18 years with oral habits of cigarette smoking and/or betel quid chewing were invited. The standardized mortality ratio method was used to compare the observed numbers of advanced oral cancers and deaths from oral cancer among screening attendees with the expected numbers derived from mortality among nonattendees. An intention-to-treat analysis of the relative rate of reductions in advanced-stage oral cancers and oral cancer mortality also was conducted.Results: The overall screening rate was 55.1%. The relative risk of death from oral cancer was 0.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.56) as a result of screening compared with the expected risk of oral cancer deaths in the absence of screening. The corresponding relative risk was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.72-0.77) after adjusting for self-selection bias. The relative risk of advanced oral cancer for the screened group versus the nonscreened group was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.59-0.64), which increased to 0.79 (95% CI, 0.76-0.82) after adjustment for self-selection bias.Conclusions: An organized, population-based oral cancer screening program targeting more than 2 million Taiwanese cigarette smokers and/or betel quid chewers demonstrated the effectiveness of reducing stage III or IV oral cancers and oral cancer mortality. These evidence-based findings corroborate and support the screening strategy of oral visual inspection for the prevention of oral cancer among high-risk individuals in areas with a high incidence of oral cancer. Cancer 2017;123:1597-1609. © 2017 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Transient receptor potential cation channel (subfamily V, members 1–4) (TRPV1–4) are expressed in skin and neurons and activated by external stimuli in normal mucosae of all oral cavity sites. The oral cavity is exposed to various stimuli, including temperature, mechanical stimuli, chemical substances, and changes in pH, and, notably, the risk factors for oncogenic transformation in oral squamous epithelium are the same as the external stimuli received by TRPV1–4 receptors. Hence, we examined the relationship between oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and TRPV1–4 expression. Materials and Methods: Oral SCC patients (n = 37) who underwent surgical resection were included in this study. We investigated the expression of TRPV1–4 by immunohistochemical staining and quantification of TRPV1–4 mRNA in human oral mucosa. In addition, we compared the TRPV1–4 levels in mucosa from patients with SCC to those in normal oral mucosa. Results: The receptors were expressed in oral mucosa at all sites (tongue, buccal mucosa, gingiva, and oral floor) and the expression was stronger in epithelia from patients with SCC than in normal epithelia. Furthermore, alcohol consumption and tobacco use were strongly associated with the occurrence of oral cancer and were found to have a remarkable influence on TRPV1–4 receptor expression in normal oral mucosa. In particular, patients with a history of alcohol consumption demonstrated significantly higher expression levels. Conclusion: Various external stimuli may influence the behavior of cancer cells. Overexpression of TRPV1-4 is likely to be a factor in enhanced sensitivity to external stimuli. These findings could contribute to the establishment of novel strategies for cancer therapy or prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was to assess the impact of Oral Cancer on the Oral Health-related Quality of Life [OHRQoL] of active cancer patients In this study, a cross-sectional design was used on 71 active cancer patients, aged between 20 and 59 years, seeking treatment at three government teaching hospitals in Lahore. The data was collected in a two-month period using the socio-dental indicator of Oral Health Impact Profile [OHIP-14] by carrying out an interview with all patients. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis and included descriptive statistics such as Frequency distribution. Kruskal Wallis test was run to assess the impact and significance of oral cancer on the OHRQoL of the patients. The level of significance was set at 5%. Of the 71 adult Cancer patients aged 20-59 years, the male and female frequency was 84.5% and 15.5% respectively. With the floor of the mouth, a site of the Oral cavity with the highest percentage of Tumour/Lesion presence (42.3%) and the pharynx being the least involved (4.2%), most of the patients had no lymph node involvement (63.4%) and had started their Cancer treatment within the week (32.4%) Age, Gender, Lymph node involvement and Metastasis showed no significance in terms of the Cancer impact on QoL. However, the Tumour/Lesion Site [p<0.001] and time since receiving Treat-ment [p<0.05] showed a significant impact on the Physical and functional discomfort of the OHIP-14 Domains. Similarly, the Tumour/Lesion site {p<0.05] and time since receiving treatment [p<0.05] showed a significant impact on psychological and social discomfort. Oral cancer and Oncological treatment greatly affect the diagnosed patient and his/her OHRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation into the limits of application of chemiluminescence (CL) methods in oncology still attracts the attention of researchers. In the present work we analyze the screening and monitoring of oncological processes (OP) in the mucous membrane of the mouth and larynx by initiated CL (ICL). Chemiluminescence has already been used by stomatologists to define the start of OP, but methods that reflect the metabolic changes in organism under cancer diagnostics still have not found their place. This work presents results of ICL on blood serum (BS) of patients with oncological diseases at different stages of medical treatment compared with those of healthy people. We found an essential metabolic difference only in types of OP that are characterized by two maxima on chemiluminograms. These OP represent only 12.81% of groups of patients with oncological diseases. The possibility to apply ICL methods to monitor operation quality and control medical treatment at different stages when the two ICL maxima are present is established. At present, the chemiluminograms with the two maxima are mostly informative, but this does not exclude the quantitative analysis of other ICL kinetic methods and is encouraging for their investigation. Any OP introduces changes in organism function and these should be reflected in the ICL. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aims The early diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer at a potentially-malignant stage would reduce morbidity and improve the survival rates and quality of life of patients. Leukoplakia is the most common potentially-malignant disorder. Clinical examination alone cannot differentiate between dysplastic and non-dysplastic leukoplakia. Chemiluminescence and toluidine blue are adjuncts to conventional examination for the early detection of dysplasia. The present study was conducted to compare the efficacies of chemiluminescence and toluidine blue for the diagnosis of dysplasia in leukoplakia. Methods One hundred patients with leukoplakia were subjected to conventional oral examination, chemiluminescent examination with ViziLite and toluidine blue test, followed by histopathological confirmation of dysplasia. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of chemiluminescence was 84.84%, 41.17%, 73.68%, 58.33%, and 70%, respectively. For toluidine blue it was 42.4%, 88.23%, 87.50%, 44.11%, and 58% respectively. Conclusions Both the techniques have adjunctive utility in the diagnosis of dysplasia in leukoplakia, but toluidine blue was more effective in identifying the more severe grades of dysplasia, and thus it effectively discriminated high-risk from low-risk lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral cancer is considered as a serious health problem resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Early detection and prevention play a key role in controlling the burden of oral cancer worldwide. The five-year survival rate of oral cancer still remains low and delayed diagnosis is considered as one of the major reasons. This increases the demand for oral screening. Currently, screening of oral cancer is largely based on visual examination. Various evidence strongly suggest the validity of visual inspection in reducing mortality in patients at risk for oral cancer. Simple visual examination is accompanied with adjunctive techniques for subjective interpretation of dysplastic changes. These include toluidine blue staining, brush biopsy, chemiluminescence and tissue autofluorescence. This review highlights the efficacy of various diagnostic methods in screening of oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human herpesviruses ( HHVs) and human papillomavirus ( HPV) are common in the general population and, in immunocompetent people, are mostly carried asymptomatically. However, once an individual becomes immunocompromised by age, illness or HIV infection these dormant viruses can manifest and produce disease. In HIV-positive patients, there is an increased risk of disease caused by HHVs and HPV infections and cancers caused by the oncoviruses Epstein-Barr Virus, HHV-8 and HPV. This workshop examined four questions regarding the viruses associated with oral cancers and disease in the HIV-positive and -negative populations, the immune response, and biomarkers useful for accurate diagnostics of these infections and their sequalae. Each presenter identified a number of key areas where further research is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Early detection of oral cancer and their precursors is the key to reducing the high mortality rate attributable to oral cancer. A variety of new chair-side diagnostic tools are currently available that may enhance oral mucosal examination and facilitate the detection of benign and malignant disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of autofluorescence, chemiluminescence and toluidine blue (TBlue) when used in combination against conventional oral examination and surgical biopsy for the detection and assessing risk status of oral potentially malignant disorders. Materials and methods: A total of 126 patients, with white, red and mixed white and red patches were included. Following a comprehensive oral examination, all patients underwent a standard protocol of autofluorescence, chemiluminescence and TBlue examination. A surgical biopsy was performed to assess oral epithelial dysplasia. Results: Seventy patients had leukoplakia/erythroplakia and 44 had epithelial dysplasia. In relation to leukoplakia/erythroplakia, autofluorescence, chemiluminescence and TBlue showed a sensitivity of 87.1, 77.1 and 52.9 % and a specificity of 21.4, 26.8 and 67.9 %, respectively. For dysplasia cases, autofluorescence, chemiluminescence and TBlue showed sensitivity and specificity of 84.1, 77.3 and 56.8 % and 15.3, 27.8 and 65.8 %, respectively. Conclusion: While all the three tests were useful in detecting oral mucosal changes, their accuracy in identifying oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) is questionable. However, in combination, the tests yielded better results, with improved specificity. Clinical relevance: These research tools are helpful in specialist clinics but further studies are necessary to examine their role in screening in primary care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Controlling oral cancer ( OC) through screening is appealing. Advantages of this are as follows: OC is often preceded by visible premalignant lesions, early-stage survival is threefold greater than late-stage survival, and visual screening is inexpensive. Disadvantages of this are as follows: high frequency of false positives, undemonstrated cost-effectiveness, and irregular screening attendance by high-risk individuals. Screening effectiveness in Western countries has not been proven, because of low OC prevalence, which disproportionally increases the number of individuals needed to screen ( NNS) to decrease mortality. This study estimated the NNS to obtain an evident decrease in OC mortality rate in the UK. Methods Data gathered from reliable databanks were used. NNS to detect one case ( NNScase) was estimated using a Bayesian approach. NNS to prevent one death ( NNSdeath) was assessed multiplying NNScase by the number of cases that must be screen-detected to prevent one death. NNS to decrease mortality rate by 1% ( NNSmortality) was assessed multiplying NNSdeath by 1% of annual OC deaths. Results NNSmortality was overall 1 125 000 (95% confidence interval - 95 CI, 690 000-1 870 000), males 551 000 (95 CI, 337 000-916 000), and females 571 000 (95 CI, 347 000-942 000). Conclusions An OC visual screening campaign capable of producing an evident decrease in mortality rate in the UK requires a large number of adults to be annually and regularly screened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Accurate clinical identification of 'higher-risk' oral premalignant lesions or 'higher-risk' areas within lesions is important. Assessment methods that predict their presence have great utility. Subjects and Methods A cross-sectional, observational study enrolled a consecutive sample of consenting patients diagnosed with oral leukoplakia, erythroleukoplakia, or erythroplakia. Medical history, visual oral examination, ViziLite® examination, toluidine blue staining ( TBlue®), and finally a biopsy were completed in a single clinic visit. Seventy-seven of 100 examined lesions in 43 patients were biopsied. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were computed for visual examination, ViziLite®, and TBlue® using biopsy results as the gold standard. Results The sensitivity of TBlue® in detecting high-risk lesions (carcinoma in situ or carcinoma) was 94 (71-100, P < 0.0003) and specificity 45 (32-58, P < 0.53), while for carcinoma, sensitivity was 100 (54-100, P < 0.032) and specificity 39 (28-52, P < 0.097). The results of ViziLite® testing either by itself or in combination with the information from toluidine blue testing revealed low sensitivity for the detection of high-risk lesions. Conclusions Clinical examination of leukoplakia, erythroplakia, or erythroleukoplakia lesions combined with toluidine blue staining may aid in the identification of severe dysplasia (carcinoma in situ) or carcinoma. This may help in determining whether, when, and where (the site within a lesion) a biopsy should be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was an evaluation of an acetic acid wash and chemiluminescent light system in combination with toluidine blue in order to detect visual identified, potentially malignant lesions. Materials and methods: Forty-four patients with 50 oral lesions of primary uncertain visible dignity were included. Next to a clinical examination, a screening with ViziLite® (VL) as well as toluidine blue (TB; together ViziLite® Plus (VLP)) was conducted. Histopathology served as gold standard and sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive as well as negative predictive value (PPV, NPV) was calculated descriptively. Additionally, a PubMed literature search using the key words 'ViziLite' and 'chemiluminescence oral cancer' was conducted. Results: Histological diagnosis showed 40 lesions of reactive/inflammatory nature, moderate dysplasia ( n = 3) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC n = 7). All OSCCs and one dysplasia were identified correct via clinical diagnosis (SE 90 %, SP 100 %, PPV 100 %, NPV 97.5 %). VL examination could show all malignancies with low specificity (SE 100 %, SP 30 %, PPV 26 %, NPV 100 %). TB and VLP were positive in all cases of cancer and in one case of inflammation (SE 80 %, SP 97.5 %, PPV 89 %, NPV 95 %). In the review, eight clinical trials with similar results were included. Conclusions: The adjunct of TB to VL reduces the number of false positives without increasing the rate of false negatives. Clinical relevance: Clinical evidence to justify the additional cost of the system for diagnosis of suspicious lesions is weak. However, for the potential role of VLP in detection of lesions not otherwise identified in the visual exam in general dental practice further studies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the oral health of the elderly depict a worrying situation, with an elevated prevalence of caries and moderate periodontal disease, frequent edentulism, and numerous cases of dry mouth and oral cancer. There is wide evidence that periodontitis is a risk factor for certain systemic diseases, and impaired oral health has been associated with mastication and nutritional problems, especially among the elderly, with highly negative effects on their quality of life. In this nonsystematic review, the authors discuss the importance of evaluating the oral health of the geriatric population in a comprehensive manner, beyond simple clinical assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge and practices of general medical practitioners (GMPs) in Lagos on screening for oral cancer (OC). Materials and Methods: A 43-item self-administered questionnaires was filled by each GMPs recruited into the study. Analysis was done using the SPSS version 17.5. Descriptive analyses were used and results were presented in percentages, graphs, and tables. Results: One-hundred and twenty GMPs participated in the study, 58.7% were males and 41.3% females; their ages ranged 22-61 years (36.1 ± 7.97). While most participants answered correctly that smoked tobacco (96.1%), increasing age >45 years (97%), oral sex (99%), and patient with a previous OC (93.7%) were risk factors for OC; there was misinformation on the nonrisk factors as only 5.5%, 7.9%, and 18.9%, respectively, answered correctly that family history of cancer, dental infections, and poor oral hygiene were not identifiable risk factors associated with OC. Furthermore, although majority of subjects (81.1%) identified the floor and the tongue as the most common sites of OC and leukoplakia (75.6%) as a common precursor of OC; only 29.1% identified correctly that OC had one of the worst morbidity and mortality rates of the most common cancers due to late presentation. Only 0.8% of GMPs had a consistent high score in the indexes. Conclusion: The knowledge and practices of GMPs in the Lagos environment on OC needs a lot of improvement for them to become significant in the screening for the disease entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: DACT genes regulates Wnt as well TGF-β pathway, and were already associated with hepatocellular and lung cancer. Alterations on Wnt/β-catenin were associated with head and neck cancer through β-catenin cytoplasmatic accumulation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate DACT1 and DACT2 expression and methylation on oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC).METHODS: 47 samples of salivary rinse and tissue were collected from 29 OSCC and 18 control patients. qMSP and RT-PCR reactions were performed in order to detect hypermethylation and expression of DACT1 and DACT2 genes. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate these genes as possible biomarkers for OSCC. RESULTS: As expected man over 60 years old with tobacco and alcohol consumption history were associated with OSCC. There was no statistical difference between groups concerning DACT1 and DACT2 either in promoter hypermethylation or transcript levels. Age was associated with DACT2 promoter hypermethylation, especially over 56 years old. CONCLUSION: Patients older than 56 years old were about 5 times more likely to have DACT2 promoter hypermethylation. These findings could partially explain why older subjects are more prone to carcinogenesis. Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays an important role in carcinogenesis, and the study of their regulators may help understand malignant transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most of the oral problems affecting patients in the ICU (intensive care unit) are conditions resulting from their general health status/immunosuppression, medications, and trauma due to tracheal intubation. Furthermore, microorganisms present in the oral cavity and oropharynx may be transported into the lungs resulting in pneumonia. Purpose: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the oral problems in patients in the ICU of a cancer center and describe the procedures performed by the dentists in such patients. Methods: The sample consisted of 116 patients and 329 procedures performed in the period between May 2007 and July 2011 at A.C. Camargo Cancer Center. Results: Oral mucositis was the main problem (20.3 %), especially in immunosuppressed patients ( p < 0.001). Other most prevalent problems were candidiasis (16.6 %), bacterial biofilm (14.9 %), and xerostomia (7.18 %). The main procedures performed were clinical evaluation and medication prescription corresponding to 35.10 and 27.81 %, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, most of the patients presented oral problems related to side effects of oncological treatment. The dentist's participation in the ICU is important for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colposcopy is an established technique for diagnosis in gynecology. Many premalignant and malignant lesions in these areas have discernible characteristics which can be detected using a colposcope, providing an enlarged view of the areas, allowing the colposcopist to visually distinguish normal from abnormal appearing tissue and take directed biopsies for further pathological examination. The diagnosis of a dysplastic lesion of the oral mucosa cannot be based solely on clinical findings. Therefore, histological evaluation of a representative biopsy specimen is necessary. The site for the biopsy is a subjective choice that sometimes raises doubts about its representativeness. So far, no simple and reliable method is available for selecting the most appropriate area for biopsy. Intraoral microscopy (oral application of the colposcopy technique) of mucosal lesions seems to offer advantages in selecting more representative sites for biopsy than routine clinical examination alone. The biopsy sites identified by direct oral microscopy show more advanced histologic signs than those selected by routine clinical examination. This article enlightens the application of colposcopy in diagnosis of oral premalignant lesions and malignant lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral cancer accounts for 5% of all malignant tumors and 60% of these lesions are well advanced at the time of diagnosis. The early diagnosis could prevent a large number of deaths due to this disease. Aims: This study aims to evaluate and compare the clinical usefulness of exfoliative cytology, modified brush biopsy (without computer assisted analysis), and biopsy in early detection of oral premalignant and malignant lesions. Materials and Methods: Modified oral brush biopsy (using baby toothbrush) and exfoliative cytology was performed on 225 clinically diagnosed oral precancerous lesions (suspected) selected from among 1099 lesions in 877 patients. Scalpel or punch biopsy was performed based on clinic-cytological evidence (test result and/or clinical judgment) on only 117 lesions. All the specimens were analyzed manually in a double-blinded fashion. Statistical Analysis Used: Results were analyzed using Statistical package for Social Sciences version 12 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and subjected to Fischer exact test. Results: Of 117 lesions that underwent all the three tests, modified oral brush biopsy showed a reasonably higher specificity (68.42%) and sensitivity (81.69%) when compared with specificity (86.48%) and sensitivity (48.57%) of cytology. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that modified oral brush biopsy has higher efficacy than routine cytology and can be used as a potentially practical oral cancer screening tool in resource challenged settings. However, clinical judgment is of prime importance. Immediate biopsy is mandatory in highly suspicious lesions proposed under the diagnostic criteria of "clinically diagnosed carcinoma in situ". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the effectiveness of different methods of instruction for the oral and pharyngeal cancer examination. A group of thirty sophomore students at the University of Florida College of Dentistry were randomly assigned to three training groups: video instruction, a faculty-led hands-on instruction, or both video and hands-on instruction. The training intervention involved attending two sessions spaced two weeks apart. The first session used a pretest to assess students' baseline didactic knowledge and clinical examination technique. The second session utilized two posttests to assess the comparative effectiveness of the training methods on didactic knowledge and clinical technique. The key findings were that students performed the clinical examination significantly better with the combination of video and faculty-led hands-on instruction (p<0.01). All students improved their clinical exam skills, knowledge, and confidence in performing the oral and pharyngeal cancer examination independent of which training group they were assigned. Utilizing both video and interactive practice promoted greater performance of the clinical technique on the oral and pharyngeal cancer examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Dentists have usually a critical role in diagnosing oral cancer lesions in their early stages. In this study we aimed to assess the senior dental students and dentists' knowledge, attitude and behaviors regarding oral cancer, in Isfahan. Materials and Methods: A valid and reliable self-administered questionnaire was designed to assess the current practice, knowledge and attitude of general dentists working in Isfahan-Iran and senior dental students regarding oral cancer lesions. The questionnaire was consisted of questions to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding diagnosis, risk factors and prognosis of oropharyngeal cancerous lesions. The frequencies of answers to questions in sections of practice and attitude (just for dentists) and sum score of questions in knowledge section were calculated and compared using statistical analysis regarding age, sex, duration of experience and practice setting (public/private) of participants. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, chi-square, linear regression and logistic regression. Results: 139 questionnaires from dentists and 57 questionnaires from students were returned. Mean score of dentist' knowledge was 5.41 out of 13(CI95%=5.03-7.79). No significant differences were observed among dentists regarding their experience (P= 0/001). Just one fifth of the dentists in our survey reported to performed oral cancer examination for all of their patients in age of 40 and above and just about 34% of dentists gained acceptable level of knowledge. Among senior dental students the status of knowledge was better as about 58% of them gained the level of acceptance (P=0.01). Conclusion: Although dentists were willing to follow the diagnostic protocol for oral, they mostly were unsatisfied with the level of their knowledge. Therefore, this study highlights the need for educational planning and training activities with regard to the risk factors and early detection of oral cancer in general dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness about oral cancer among patients who visited Islamic International Dental Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan. It was quantitative study that employed descriptive cross-sectional design. The Quantitative study design was selected because it was less time consuming and cost effective. This study included a pre-existing questionnaire. The pre-existing questionnaire was in English and Urdu language (national language of Pakistan). It included 15 questions regarding patient knowledge about the spread of disease, etiology, prognosis, sign and symptoms, risk factors and treatment of the disease. All patients aged 18 years and above visiting (random sampling) Islamic International Dental Hospital, Islamabad during the specified period of time. (Between 20thJune - July 2011) were approached and invited to participate in the study. Maximum sampling of 100 patients including 60 male patients and 40 female patients were done. The respondents were then selected on the basis of filling the inclusion criteria. Pearson chi- square test and descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution and cross-tabulation were used to analyze the data through SPSS. Level of significance was set at 0.05 or smaller than this value. The final results show that 54% of the participants were only aware of the knowledge and awareness regarding oral cancer. A significant number of patients (29%) were found after going through all the data that were collected to be totally unaware or ignorant of the actual price that had to be payed for tobacco smoking. Lastly, only about 17% of the respondents had intermediate knowledge about mouth cancer. Regarding risk factors 95% expressed awareness that smoking and smokeless tobacco (including betel nut, pan and chalia) were cause of oral cancer and the P-value was also found to be significant (0.053).It was concluded that information regarding oral cancer knowledge was good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Oral cancer in the form of squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC) is typically detected in advanced stages when treatment is complex and may not be curative. The need for surgical biopsy may contribute to delays in diagnosis and impede early detection. Multiple studies of RNA from surgically obtained tumor samples have revealed many genes differentially expressed with this disease. We sought to determine whether the identified mRNAs could be used as markers by a non-invasive detection system for OSCC using RNA from brush cytology. Methods Levels of mRNAs from 21 genes known to be differentially expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma surgical samples, compared with controls, were shown to be quantifiable in oral brush cytology samples. These mRNAs were quantified in a training set of 14 tumor and 20 non-malignant brush cytology samples from tobacco/betel nut users. With the measurement of two additional mRNAs and analysis using support vector machines algorithm for class prediction of these cancers was produced. Results This OSCC classifier based on the levels of 5 mRNAs in RNA from brush cytology initially showed 0.93 sensitivity and 0.91 specificity in differentiating OSCC from benign oral mucosal lesions based on leave-one-out cross-validation. When used on a test set of 19 samples from 6 OSCCs and 13 non-malignant oral lesions, we found misclassification of only one OSCC and one benign lesion. Conclusions This shows the promise of using RNA from brush cytology for early OSCC detection and the potential for clinical usage of this non-invasive classifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral cancer is a major global health problem and familiarity with its epidemiological and etiological characteristics and the methods of prevention has the potential to improve its management. The most common histological subtype of oral cancer is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which exceeds 95% of all cases and represents the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. The global incidence varies widely from region to region. An extremely high incidence of OSCC is recorded in India, which is attributed mainly to special local smoking habits, while the incidence in northern Europe is significantly lower than in other counties. OSCC occurs mainly in men aged older than 65 years, although during the last few decades a steadily increasing incidence has been noted among females and individuals of less than 40 years. The most common site of involvement is the lateral border of the tongue, followed by the floor of the mouth. Numerous risk factors have been implicated in the development of OSCC, in a multifactorial model. Smoking is the most significant predisposing factor, especially when combined with heavy alcohol consumption. Human papilloma virus (HPV), especially the oncogenic types 16 and 18, has been implicated in the development of OSCC, but its specific role is still under investigation. In recent years promising molecular biology research has been focused on deciphering genetic aberrations commonly identified in OSCC. Unfortunately, even today, most patients are diagnosed when the OSCC is at an advanced stage, associated with a poor prognosis. Greater emphasis on primary (avoidance of etiological factors) and secondary (early detection) prevention programs is required in order to improve overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Smoking and moderate-heavy alcohol consumption are primary risk factors for oral cancer. This report uses national data to test whether adults with these risk factors received oral cancer examinations ( OCEs) at a rate consistent with their risk. Methods Data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey ( NHIS) were used for this analysis. The main outcome variables described lifetime receipt of extraoral or intraoral OCEs. Other variables described health-care visits, as well as the timing of, reasons for, and type of practitioner providing the most recent OCE. Descriptor variables were smoking and drinking status. Covariates included several sociodemographic factors. Weighted bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using SUDAAN software. Results According to the 2008 NHIS, about 34 percent of adults aged 40 years or older reported receiving either an extraoral or intraoral examination during their lifetime. Current smokers were no more likely to have received an OCE than were never smokers, controlling for relevant covariates. Moderate-heavy drinkers and light drinkers were significantly more likely to have received an OCE than were lifetime abstainers. Conclusions Current smokers did not receive OCEs at a rate consistent with their increased risk, whereas moderate-heavy drinkers did. One explanation for this finding is that medical and dental visit behaviors indirectly influenced OCE rates. Dentition status played an important role, as having teeth is strongly associated with dental visit behaviors. Health-care practitioners are encouraged to consider the smoking and drinking statuses of their patients when they conduct routine physical examinations of the head and neck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The disease specific five-year survival rate especially for patients with advanced oral cancer has not improved significantly over the period of time. The most effective way of combating this dilemma is an early detection, diagnosis and eradication of early-stage lesions and their precursors. The use of VELscope® using an autofluorescence as a diagnostic tool might be useful in early detection of oral malignant lesions. Materials and methods: 120 patients with suspicious oral premalignant lesions were examined with two examination methods. They were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 was examined conventional with white-light and group 2 was examined additionally to the white-light-examination with an autofluorescence visualization device, VELscope®. Biopsies were obtained from all suspicious areas identified in both examination groups (n = 52). The diagnostic strategies were compared regarding sensitivity and specificity. Results: Based upon the result, use of the VELscope® leads to a higher sensitivity (22.0%), but regarding specificity the additional use of the VELscope® is inferior (8.4%). Conclusion: The VELscope device is a simple, non-invasive test of the oral mucosa, which can help the experienced clinician to find oral precursor malignant lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dentists are usually the first group who can examine patients for oral cancer and the early diagnosis highly depends on their knowledge. In this study, we aim to survey the Iranian dentists' knowledge, attitude, and behaviors regarding oral cancer. A valid and reliable self-administered questionnaire was designed and sent to 150 dentists. Responses to the questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Just one fifth of the dentists reported to perform oral cancer examination for all of their patients in age of 40 and above and about 34 % of them were knowledgeable. They mostly claimed that the lack of knowledge is the main barriers to the provision of routine oral cancer examinations. The opinion of dentists about the effectiveness of continuing education courses supports the development of these courses on oral cancer. Besides, more emphasis should be placed on oral cancer prevention in dental schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Utility of diagnostic adjuncts ( DAs) in an adult population with a low oral and pharyngeal cancer ( OPC) prevalence is unclear. In this study, we compare the effectiveness of DAs and clinicians' conventional oral examination ( COE) in detecting oral and pharyngeal cancers ( OPC), in high-risk ( HR) users, low-risk ( LR) and alcohol, and in the overall adult US populations ( GP). Methods We assumed oral cancer DAs to have 99% sensitivity and specificity. For COE, 79.6% sensitivity and 97.7% specificity were used. Using Altman's mathematical model, the positive predictive values ( PPV) for a DA and COE were estimated for HR, LR, and GP groups, respectively. Three different scenarios (sensitivity constant but decreasing specificity, specificity constant but decreasing sensitivity, and decreasing both sensitivity and specificity simultaneously) were developed to simulate the true effectiveness of DAs while keeping the prevalence of OPC in HR, LR, and GP groups constant at 0.4039%, 0.0362%, and 0.1109%, respectively. Results The PPVs for a DA in HR, LR, and GP groups in the United States were estimated at 29%, 3%, and 10%, while for COE, the PPVs would be at 12%, 1%, and 4%, respectively. Conclusions Utility of DAs in LR and GP groups is negligible due to very low OPC prevalence in these populations. In HR population, DAs may have a slightly better effectiveness than clinicians only when assumed to have high sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The detection of oral cancer at an early stage is an optimal strategy and is the most effective approach for preventing further progression. The rationale of the study was to evaluate the epithelial maturation pattern in oral mucosa exposed to tobacco/alcohol and on dysplastic oral mucosa using the scanning electron microscope. Methods: Fifteen subjects were selected based on clinical examination and divided into three groups: group 1-patients with apparently normal oral mucosa; group 2-patients with oral mucosa exposed to tobacco/alcohol; group 3-patients with clinical diagnosis of leukoplakia. An incisional biopsy was performed from the buccal mucosa. One part of the specimen was prepared for light microscopy and the other part was prepared for scanning electron microscopy. Results: Light microscopy revealed nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium in group 1, while group 2 demonstrated hyperparakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium with mild cytological atypia, and group 3 showed architectural and cytological changes. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated flat-surfaced cells with equidistant parallel microridges in group 1, while group 2 showed irregular and widened microridges with numerous pits and absence of honeycomb pattern. Group 3 showed irregularly arranged broad and swollen cells with numerous pits and irregular microvilli projecting over the surface. Conclusion: The present study establishes the relationship of the surface abnormalities to the tendency of the cells to become malignant and thus serves as a tool in early detection of squamous cell carcinoma. It also emphasizes the need of routine follow-up in these high-risk patients for progression of carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We aimed to examine if smoking is an independent predictor of oral candidiasis ( OC) among HIV-1 infected persons. Methods The cross-sectional part of this study evaluated 631 adult dentate HIV-1 seropositive persons examined for OC from 1995-2000 at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC. In the second part, from the above sample, a total of 283 individuals who were free of HIV-associated oral diseases at baseline were followed up for 2 years to assess incident OC events. Data collected from medical record review, interview questionnaires, and clinical examinations were analyzed using chi-squared tests and t-tests. Logistic regression models were developed for prevalent OC employing the likelihood ratio test, whereas Poisson regression models were developed for assessing cumulative incidence of OC. These models included a variety of independent variables to adjust for confounding. Results Thirteen percent of participants had OC only; 4.6% had OC with Oral Hairy Leukoplakia; and 69.7% had neither. Smoking was associated with OC in all models [prevalent OC - current smokers: logistic regression - Odd ratio (95% CI) = 2.5 (1.3, 4.8); Incident OC - current smokers: Poisson regression (main effects model) - Incidence rate ratio (95% CI) = 1.9 (1.1, 3.8)]. Other Poisson regression models suggested evidence for effect modification between CD4 cell count and incident OC by smoking. Conclusion Smoking is an independent risk factor for the development of OC in HIV-1 infected persons, and the risk of OC is modified by CD4 cell count which measures strength of the immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate periodontal changes after periodontal treatment and control in patients with malignant tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract who were submitted to radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Methods: We included all patients attending the Oncology Clinic of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, School of Dentistry. Clinical periodontal parameters obtained by a single calibrated examiner were evaluated at baseline, 10 days after radiotherapy, and 180 days after radiotherapy. Patients were grouped into healthy or periodontally diseased individuals. All patients received oral hygiene instructions, and the diseased patients received periodontal therapy at baseline. Comparisons between the groups were performed via the McNemar and Wilcoxon tests using SPSS v. 17.0. Results: A total of 28 patients were examined at baseline, of which 27 were examined 10 days after radiotherapy and 25 were examined 180 days after radiotherapy. The prevalence of periodontal disease at baseline was 67.9 % and did not decrease over time ( p = 1.0). There was a significant reduction in probing depth (PD), plaque index (PI), and bleeding on probing between baseline and follow-up, which was not observed in the attachment level (AL). Conclusions: Periodontal therapy was effective in reducing PI and improving periodontal status, as evidenced by the decreases in PD and the maintenance of AL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The clinical oral examination (COE) is the criterion standard for the initial detection of oral lesions that harbor dysplasia or oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) at an early stage when they are most treatable. The authors conducted a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of the COE in predicting histologie diagnosis of dysplasia or OSCC. Methods. The authors conducted automated searches of PubMed, Web of Knowledge and the Cochrane Library from 1966 through 2010 for randomized controlled trials and observational studies that included the terms "oral mucosal lesion screening" and "oral lesions." They determined the quality (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic odds ratio) of selected studies by using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. Results. The overall diagnostic odds ratio was 6.1 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.1-17.6); therefore, the COE was considered to have poor overall performance as a diagnostic method for predicting dysplasia and OSCC. Clinical Implications. On the basis of the available literature, the authors determined that a COE of mucosal lesions generally is not predictive of histologic diagnosis. The fact that OSCCs often are diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease indicates the need for improving the COE and for developing adjuncts to help detect and diagnose oral mucosal lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brief Background: Oral cancer is a major health problem in India as it ranks number one among men (12% of all cancers) & number three among women (8% of all cancers). Oral cancer screening has received the much needed attention in terms of research work carried out as well as newer tools developed for the early detection of oral cancer. A lot of devices have been devised for the market, based on various biological principles. Materials and Methods: A wide range of diagnostic aids are available that utilize several biologic principles viz. Tissue staining, fluorescence, reflectance, light imaging, cytology, molecular techniques etc. Each one of them has to be studied based on their specificity and sensitivity values plus their predictive accuracy. Discussion: Every device has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The articles classifies and summarizes all the available diagnostic aids the along with their principles, utility value and limitations. Summary and Conclusions: Although a wide range of diagnostic aids is available for early detection of oral cancer, surgical biopsy still remains the gold standard of oral cancer diagnosis. Yet these devices can be used for screening of high risk cases, follow up of cases as well as in selecting the best site for biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuing education (CE) can have a large impact on dentists' oral cancer attitudes, knowledge, and behavior. Reading scientific journals is a key component of CE. The objective of this study was to assess preventive and clinical attitudes of the participants in an educational intervention on oral cancer in Spain based on scientific journals. Members of the Spanish Board of Dentists and Stomatologists participated in an online, cross-sectional study, using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. There were 791 general dental practitioners (GDPs) invited to participate in the study. The large majority reported that they deliver tobacco-cessation counseling (93.6 percent) as well as advice on alcohol consumption (66.6 percent), but advice on vegetable intake was less frequently provided (42.4 percent). Alcohol intake advice, routine mucosa exploration, and biopsy perfomiance on lesions suspicious of malignancy are preventive attitudes related to training. Compared with those who did not benefit from CE courses or did so only once, the GDPs who took four or more CE courses showed a doubling in the odds of giving alcohol advice to their patients and a tenfold increased odds of performing mucosa check on a routine basis; they were 3.5 times as likely to take biopsies of suspicious lesions. A longer experience as a GDP did not increase the probability of adopting preventive attitudes. In addition to presenting the results of this study, the article also discusses the general usefulness of other preventive measures in oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Technology that highlights potentially malignant oral lesions in a highly sensitive and specific manner will aid clinicians in early diagnosis of these conditions. This study assessed the efficacy of direct tissue autofluorescence imaging Visually Enhanced Lesion Scope (VELScope) in the detection of oral mucosal lesions. Methods One hundred twelve patients referred with a potentially malignant oral mucosal lesion were examined under routine incandescent light, and then with VELScope, noting loss of autofluorescence and presence of blanching. Incisional biopsies were performed to provide definitive histopathological diagnoses. Results VELScope enhanced the visibility of 41 lesions and helped uncover 5 clinically undetected lesions. VELScope examination alone showed a sensitivity of 30% and a specificity of 63%. Its accuracy at identifying dysplasia was 55%. Conclusion VELScope examination cannot provide a definitive diagnosis regarding the presence of epithelial dysplasia. Loss of autofluorescence is not useful in diagnosing epithelial dysplasia in its own right without relevant clinical interpretation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer and dentists have a vital role in its prevention and early detection. The purpose of the present study was a comparative evaluation of knowledge between fifth and sixth year dental students and general dentists in Hamadan about to OSCC. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Hamadan in 2009. Eighty general dentists and 70 dental students participated in the study and filled out our questionnaire. Data were analyzed via SPSS software, version 16, by t-test and Pierson co-efficient correlation. Results: The mean knowledge score was 8.55±2.21 and 6.48±2.34 of 13 in students and dentists respectively which was significantly different (P< 0.001). There was not a significant correlation between either age, gender, interval of last study about OSCC, the interest in participation in related seminars and self evaluation of students about OSCC, with their knowledge score but dentists' knowledge were declined by increase in age, time passed from graduation and the last time of their study about OSCC statistically. Conclusion: This study indicated that knowledge of dental students and general dentists about OSCC is not enough in Hamadan; also, there was a significant difference between them and it seems there needs to be a greater emphasis on various educational programs about this subject both before and after graduation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Oral and pharyngeal cancer is the seventh leading tumour in Europe. In Germany, more than 10,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year. This population-based project evaluated the available data to develop a more detailed epidemiological profile of oral and pharyngeal cancer. Methods: The data on incidence and mortality rates of the population-based Cancer Registry of Schleswig-Holstein were evaluated according to tumour sites, tumour stages and residential areas by age groups and gender from 2000 to 2006 and the tumour stages from 2000 to 2007. Results: From 2000 to 2006, 3,127 new cases of oral and pharyngeal cancer (72% in men vs. 28% in women) were registered. About 50% of all cases, in men and women, were between 60 and 79 years. This detailed analysis of tumour sites and tumour stages showed interesting differences and revealed considerable variations. The highest incidence rates for both men and women were diagnosed in stage IV for older people, in women for oral cancer and men for pharyngeal cancer. The highest incidence and mortality trends were observed in urban areas. Conclusions: Detailed population-based results described important variations with regard to tumour sites, stages and areas. These data play a central role as they provide the epidemiological profile of a tumour. This profile, together with possible targeted knowledge evaluations of the public and the health care providers involved, can be used as a prerequisite for health care activities and for the development of preventive strategies for targeted public awareness campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess oral cancer awareness among dentists in Kuwait. Subjects andMethods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 dentists working at the Ministry of Health Dental Centers and Kuwait University Dental Center using a structured questionnaire. Dentists' knowledge about risk factors of oral cancer and about diagnostic concepts, current practices and opinions, preferred point of referral as well as interest in continuing education were assessed and the responses were analyzed. Results: Of the 200 dentists surveyed, 153 responded (76.5% response rate). The mean knowledge score of the respondents was 20.6 ± 4.0 out of a total score of 30. Thirty-five (22.9%) dentists had consistently high knowledge scores for both risk factors and diagnostic concepts. Of the 153 dentists, 132 (86.3%) were interested in obtaining further information about oral cancer. Conclusion: This study highlighted the need for improved knowledge and education of dental practitioners on oral cancer. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the awareness level of university students, their attitude and habits of tobacco use amongst them. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from a random sample of 236 students from 5 non-medical universities of Peshawar. The questionnaire included 12 questions pertaining to knowledge about oral cancer, its causative factors, key symptoms and habits of snuff dipping and smoking. In this study 64% students were males and 36% were females. Only 3% of students were familiar with the word oral cancer, 45% of students were aware that cigarette can cause oral cancer while 22% stated niswar as cause of oral cancer. 58% of students had no idea about signs of oral cancer. With regards to dental attendance 89% students said that they will visit a dentist when in trouble. 7% were in habit of snuff dipping and 19% were found to be smokers. This study revealed that the student population was unaware about oral cancer especially about its signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head and neck cancer screening programs have been proposed as a means of reducing the significant morbidity and mortality associated with these malignancies. Improved survival with early diagnosis, detectable precursor lesions, and identifiable risk factors suggest that head and neck cancer may be well-suited for screening programs. However, there is a dearth of studies demonstrating the survival benefit of such programs. The only level 1 evidence regarding the efficacy of head and neck cancer screening is from one randomized control trial that reported a survival benefit to visual examination of the oral cavity in individuals at high risk for oral cancer. Multiple studies indicate that the detection rate for precancerous and cancerous lesions is low and that screening programs should target those with risk factors for developing head and neck cancer. Additional studies to address screening intervals, target populations, economic viability, and facilitation of follow-up are needed. Further work must be performed before definitive recommendations regarding head and neck cancer screening can be formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]