New Tools May Help Dentists Detect Oral Cancers Earlier
Early detection of oral cancer means agreater chance of a good outcome. The 5-year survival rate for oral cancer is low, at just below 50%. However, early detection and treatment results in the 5year survival rate increasing sharply to about 80%.
Great strides are being made by Canadian researchers in the quest to identify high-risk oral lesions in dental patients. To further the important work being done in this area, the National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research has awarded the BC Cancer Agency a $2.5 million grant to aid in the creation of new technologies that detect oral cancer in dental patients.
As part of the BC Oral Cancer Prevention Program, pioneering dental practitioners in British Columbia have been successful in creating new technologies specifically designed for detecting changes in the mouth. Since 90% of the province's residents see a dentist at least once every year, British Columbia has been identified as an excellent environment for developing a model to screen and identify high-risk oral lesions.
Changes in the mouth that are undetectable by the naked eye can now become visible with the help of a new fluorescence technology that the BC Cancer Agency has developed. This hand-held portable device uses a blue light to help dentists to better define the borders of a cancerous lesion that under white light might just be invisible. Going forward, dentists will be able to add this instrument to their arsenal of diagnostic tools to help determine which patients might need more evaluation through scrapings from the oral cavity or biopsy.
Currently, the device is being used on participants in aclinical trial at the BC cancer Agency. It should soon be available for use in dental practices on high-risk patient groups. Training and technology should enable the people at the point of screening to determine whether a lesion should be monitored, or if the patient should be referred for further assessment to aspecial care facility.
Of course, there will be cases where the dentist will be in a position to decide immediately whether a biopsy should be taken. Dr. Calum MacAulay, senior scientist at the BC Cancer Agency points out that, "The beauty of these technologies is the ability to use them across many types ofcancer but with oral cancer, the advantage is that you can see it early in the natural history of the disease with a technology that has been validated in other cancer sites."
This news clearly indicates the need for people to be screened routinely so that if oral cancer is present, it can be detected in IT'S early stages. Left untreated, oral cancer has the potential to spread to the lymph nodes and lungs.
The bottom line? Keeping regular dental check-up appointments and sticking your tongue out at your dentist may help increase your chances for a long and healthy life.
November 14, 2007Dental News0
