Colposcopy : An Innovative Diagnostic Technique for Oral Lesions

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading cause of deaths in public health and is particularly common in developing countries. The inuence of smoking, chewing tobacco and alcohol has usually been considered a relevant confounding factor for oral cancer. Oral cancer is generally preceded by some potentially malignant disorders such as leukoplakia, lichen planus, oral submucous brosis etc. However, even with meticulous follow up, early malignant changes are still overlooked. As the emphasis shifts from damage mitigation to disease prevention, the need for sensitive and accurate detection and diagnostic tools become more important. Many novel and emergent optical diagnostic modalities for the oral cavity are available with a variety of desirable attributes including non-invasiveness, absence of ionising radiation, patient friendliness, repeatability and high resolution surface. One such diagnostic aid is Colposcopy. Because of the rapid pace of innovation in this eld, the cost and ease of use of such modalities is improving rapidly. Hence, early diagnosis is of paramount importance facilitating large scale screening for high risk population. The future is promising for further development and evolution of oral cancer diagnostic aids to enhance the quality of patient care there by reducing the mortality and morbidity.