An update on light-based technologies and fluorescent imaging in oral cancer detection

Abstract

Oral cancer is a potentially fatal disease that constitutes an important portion of tumors of head and neck region. More than 90% of oral cancers are oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). Regardless of the fact that the oral cavity is easily accessible to the accumulation of carcinogens, most oral cancers are typically detected at an advanced stage leading to lower survival rate among subjects. Therefore, early detection of the oral cancer and its precursor lesions may be the most effective means to improve prognosis and treatment in most patients. One of the emerging technologies is the use of optical methods to capture the molecular changes at high-resolution to improve the detection capability of early stage disease. Optical diagnosis techniques when compared with traditional approaches such as vital staining, biopsy has many advantages such as objectivity, speed, and cost. Moreover, these incorporate particularly noninvasive methods of oral cancer detection. The present article highlights various optical methods and their role in oral cancer detection.