Advancement in Diagnostic Aids for Oral Premalignant Lesions

Abstract

Introduction: Precancerous lesions, conditions, and early-stage oral cancer cannot be sufficiently identified solely through visual inspection and may be prone to be inadvertently disregarded. Distinguishing between early-stage cancer, precancerous lesions, and benign tumors can pose a challenge due to the striking resemblance in their visual characteristics. Using surgical biopsy as a diagnostic modality is widely regarded as the gold standard in the medical community. However, it is essential to acknowledge that acquiring professional services for this procedure can prove impractical in certain circumstances. Hence this paper presents a concise review of a wide range of advanced diagnostic aids employed in detection of Oral Premalignant Lesions (OPL). Methods: The literature search utilized appropriate keywords to search online databases like PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Wiley science library, and Saudi digital library. Results: Alternative screening methods that are noninvasive, readily executed, and exhibit a high degree of accuracy are the established criteria for considering a test as a viable substitute for histopathology. Early diagnosis is a paramount factor in the effective management of oral cancer. Vital staining, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence imaging, laser confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy diagnostic modalities are employed for the timely identification of oral premalignant lesions. Conclusion: Recent advances have improved the diagnostic aids in easy and accurate detection of oral premalignant lesions thereby facilitating effective management and mitigation strategies at an early stage of the lesion.