Early diagnosis of oral cancer

TLDR

Oral cancer affects about 30,000 Americans annually, with a 50 % survival rate that can rise to 80 % when detected early, yet early lesions often resemble benign changes, leading to delayed diagnosis and higher risk of local spread and metastasis. Toluidine blue vital staining combined with exfoliative cytology accelerates biopsy of ambiguous lesions, facilitating earlier detection.

Abstract

Oral cancer currently strikes about 30,000 Americans each year. Survival rates are approximately 50%. However, early detection followed by appropriate treatment can increase cure rates to about 80%, and greatly improves the quality of life by minimizing extensive, debilitating treatments. An early oral cancer can appear as an innocuous red or white change, an ulcer, or a lump, mimicking many benign lesions. Additionally, when the discomfort is minimal, professional consultation often is delayed, increasing the chance for local spread and regional metastases. Vital staining with toluidine blue and exfoliative cytologic examination can aid early detection by accelerating the biopsy of lesions that cannot be classified adequately or made to disappear.