%0 Journal Article
%T Application of cytology and molecular biology in diagnosing premalignant or malignant oral lesions
%A Ravi Mehrotra
%A Anurag Gupta
%A Mamta Singh
%A Rahela Ibrahim
%J Molecular Cancer
%D 2006
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1476-4598-5-11
%X Oral cancer is the most common cancer and constitutes a major health problem in developing countries, representing the leading cause of death. Although representing 2¨C4% of the malignancies in the West, this carcinoma accounts for almost 40% of all cancers in the Indian subcontinent [1]. A key factor in the lack of improvement in prognosis over the years is the fact that a significant proportion of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are not diagnosed or treated until they reach an advanced stage. This diagnostic delay may be caused by either patients (who may not report unusual oral features) or by health care workers (who may not investigate observed lesions thoroughly) and it is presumed that such delays are longer for asymptomatic lesions. The prognosis for patients with OSCC that is treated early is much better, with 5-year survival rates as high as 80%. In addition, the quality of life improves after early treatment, because cure can be achieved with less complex and less aggressive treatment than is necessary for advanced lesions.A significant proportion of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) develop from premalignant lesions such as leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis (Fig. 1). Adjuncts for detection of lesions and selection of biopsy sites include vital tissue staining (with Toluidine blue Fig. 2) and exfoliative cytology. Unfortunately, sensitivity of cytological diagnosis in a meta-analysis of 1306 cases from 14 studies showed an average of only 87.4% (ranging from 73.8 to 100%)[2]. Histological examination of tissue remains the gold standard for diagnosis and identification of malignant oral lesions. Biopsy is an invasive technique with surgical implications, technique limitations for professionals and psychological implications for most patients. It also presents limitations when the lesions are large and in these cases it is important to select the most appropriate site of biopsy. Furthermore, even though the biopsy study is fundamental, it is a d
%U http://www.molecular-cancer.com/content/5/1/11