Influence of prevention campaigns on the diagnosis index of potentially malignant lesions

• Grant number: 06/00613-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2006
• End date: February 28, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Cláudia Maria Navarro
• Grantee: Andreia Bufalino
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The natural history of oral cancer development can involve genetic mutation in areas with previous potentially malignant lesions (PMLs). An important percentage of oral cancers can be early diagnosed based on recognition and careful follow-up of PMLs (leukoplakia, erytroplakia, lichen planus and actinic cheilitis). If showing mild clinical signs suggestive of malignancy, PMLs must be biopsied for microscopical examination. The diagnosis of PMLs is a highly promising possibility to improve early diagnosis rates of oral cancer. The active participation of the patients to perform self-examination to identify oral lesions is mandatory to achieve this goal. The Oral Cancer Prevention Campaign has been held at the Agro Commercial and Industrial Fair (FACIRA) in Araraquara-SP since 1999. The main objective of this campaign is to inform the population about oral cancer, risk factors and precursor lesions such as PMLs, intending to increase rates of early diagnosis of oral cancer and PMLs. Objective: To analyze clinical files from the Oral Medicine Service before and after the Oral Cancer Prevention Campaign establishment to verify if rates of diagnosis of PMLs changed. Another aim is to analyze the profile of these patients and the characteristics of diagnosed oral lesions. Methodology: Clinical files of patients who attended the Oral Medicine Service of UNESP-Faculty of Odontology of Araraquara between 1995 and 2004 will be selected. The following pieces of information will be evaluated: age, ethnicity, gender, risk factors, clinical and histological patterns of the lesions among others. The data obtained from the files will be transferred to a codified form to be registered in a database from Epi Info 3.3.2. Results will be organized in tables and graphics. Expected results: The previous Campaign (1995 to 1999) results will be compared with the posterior results (2000 to 2004). Considering the controversy in the literature, it is not possible to know whether the preventive campaign influences or not on the increase of diagnosis rates of oral PMLs. This would be the best result though. Hypotheses: H0: Preventive campaigns did not modify the diagnostic rates of PML in the Oral Medicine Service.H1: Preventive campaigns modified diagnostic rates of PML in the Oral Medicine Service. (AU)