Oral Cancer Detection Through Optical Device

Just as standard physicians and oncologists have the means of identifying various types of cancers, dentists also have their methods for identifying oral cancer and getting their patients to the treatment they need. One such method, according to a recently published study in the Journal of Biomedical Optics , involves customized optical devices, which allow dental professionals to visualize whether or not their patients possibly have a growing oral cancer to be dealt with.

The simple, handheld device in question—the Visually Enhanced Lesion Scope (VELScope)—releases a stream of blue light down into the patient’s mouth where it excites numerous molecules within the cells, leading to them absorbing the light’s energy and re-emitting it as a visible fluorescence. Once the blue light is turned off, the tissue’s fluorescence disappears.

According to the study, changes in healthy tissue’s natural fluorescence typically reflects changes that are indicative of growing tumor cells. The VELScope gives dentists the chance to place the light on a suspect mouth sore, look through a connected eyepiece, and directly watch for color changes. Healthy mouth tissue produces pale green colors whereas possible early dysplastic (tumor) cells will appear black or dark green.

In Vancouver, Canada, scientists with the British Columbia Cancer Research Center used this device on 50 tissue spots in 44 patients. In almost every instance save one, the scientists found they could differentiate between abnormal and healthy tissue correctly. The diagnoses were corroborated via standard pathological tests and biopsies.

"The natural fluorescence of the mouth is invisible to the naked eye," says Dr. Miriam Rosin, the study’s main author and a cancer biologist with the research center in Vancouver. "The VELScope literally brings this natural fluorescence to light, helping dentists to answer in a more informed way a common question in daily practices: to biopsy or not to biopsy."

Trying to determine if suspicious sores are benign or possibly cancerous has been scientifically problematic in the past. "A major reason is looks alone can be deceiving," Dr. Rosin said. "What’s been badly needed in screening for oral cancer is a way to visualize the biological information within and let it tell you whether or not a lesion is likely to become cancerous." If you suspect you have oral cancer or if you haven’t been to the doctor or dentist in a considerable amount of time, make sure you lean on the side of caution and get yourself checked out.

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