Analysis of clinical fluorescence in the diagnosis of malignant potential lesions of oral cavity

• Grant number: 09/11521-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2009
• End date: March 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Norberto Nobuo Sugaya
• Grantee: Norberto Nobuo Sugaya
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Early detection of oral neoplasias and premalignant lesions of oral cavity have been subjects of researches in scientific world. Strategies like auto exam, periodic professional exams and the use of auxiliary resources like toluidine blue aimed to perform an early diagnosis. Nowadays, new studies have been doing trying to detect alterations even before the clinical visualization. One of these new techniques is the fluorescence analysis of oral tissue. The VELscope® (Visually Enhanced Lesion Scope) is a new auxiliary equipment available to visualize the oral tissue to identify dysplastic alterations when exposed to some specific wave length of light. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical effectiveness of the fluorescence visualization using the VELscope® as an auxiliary diagnosis method of premalignant and malignant lesions comparing with normal clinical observation, toluidine blue, exfoliative cytology and an incisional biopsy as a diagnostic confirmation. We intend to study 150 patients from Sao Paulo University and from Heliopolis Hospital separated in three groups (50 each): Group1- patients presenting premalignant and malignant oral lesions, Group2- patients without oral lesions but with risk factors like, tobacco and drinking habits and control Group3- without lesions and without risk factors. The oral mucosas patients will be exam by regular clinical light and under fluorescence visualization, when necessary we will perform a toluidine blue test, exfoliative cytology and incisional biopsy. All the patients will be photographed under normal light and under fluorescence light, after that, we will use a digital image software IMAGELAB 2000®. The early detection is very important not only to the patient, but to his family and the society. This pointed, it is evident the importance of development of new diagnosis techniques aiming the early detection of neoplasics lesions. (AU)