The diagnostic efficacy of visually enhanced lesion scope (Velscope) in identifying benign, dysplastic and cancerous oral lesions

Abstract

Background: Visual inspection by conventional oral examination (COE) has been the backbone of oral cancer and precancer detection. More recently, several commercially available diagnostic adjuncts have been developed to aid clinicians in the early detection of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), such as OralCDx, Toluidine coloring, ViziLite machine, Identafi machine, and VELscope. VELscope is a technology based on the principles of autofluorescence mechanism imaging. This device offers in-vivo, real-time, direct visualization of tissue autofluorescence, termed direct visual fluorescent examination (DVFE). It is currently marketed as an oral cancer screening tool to be used with all new and recall dental patients and as an aid for surgeons in tumor margin delineation. Aim of the study:was to obtain auto fluorescent data on variety of histopathologically distinct oral lesions and assessment of direct auto fluorescent examination validity in identifying dysplastic (premalignant) and malignant oral mucosal lesions using VELscope and judgment with histopathological examination. Materials and methods: Routine oral examination of fifty patients having suspicious oral lesions followed by direct autofluorescent examination by VElscope and then histopathological examination. Conclusion: VELscope can be considered as an adjunctive device to enhance the visualization of oral mucosal abnormalities, but not as a tool for risk stratification.