The use of VELscope® for detection of oral potentially malignant disorders and cancers – a pilot study

Abstract

Introduction. Cancer is one of the major threats to public health in the world. Oral cancer presents especially low survival rate. Early detection of oral cancer and identification of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) is crucial for improving the outcome of this disease. Adjunctive techniques that may facilitate the early detection of OPMD and oral cancer have emerged in the past decades.

The objective of the present study was to assess the utility of the autofluorescence examination.

Materials and methods. 50 patients, 32 males and 18 females, with oral cavity and lip cancer history were enrolled. Investigation of oral mucosa condition involved the conventional examination in white light and the autofluorescence examination. All detected oral lesions that had not responded to the conservative therapy in 14 days were biopsied.

Results. Oral lesions were detected in 10 patients. Fluorescence visualization loss was observed in eleven of twelve clinically diagnosed lesions. Single lesions were detected only in the conventional or autofluorescence examination. 11 lesions were biopsied. The histopathological examination confirmed dysplasia in 3 cases. 2 lesions were biopsied for the second time. The examination revealed carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. The sensitivity and specificity of autofluorescence for the detection of a dysplastic and cancer lesion was 100% and 12.5%, respectively.

Conclusion. While VELscope® was useful in confirming the presence of oral lesions, the device was unable to discriminate high - risk from low - risk lesions.