ABSTRACT
Context: The diagnosis of malignant and potentially malignant epithelial lesions of the oral mucosa cannot be based solely on clinical fi ndings. The histologic evaluation of a representative biopsy specimen thus becomes necessary. The site for biopsy however is always a subjective choice that sometimes raises doubts about its representativeness. So far, no simple and reliable method is available for the selection of the most appropriate area for biopsy. Colposcopy is helpful in the selection of these sites of epithelial dysplasia depending upon the vascular patterns. Aims: This study was planned to assess the role of Colposcopic examination in the selection of biopsy site in patients with varying grades of oral epithelial dysplasia at various sites. Settings and Design: One hundred and eighty patients between the ages of 30 and 60 years clinically diagnosed with leukoplakia and carcinoma buccal mucosa were included in the study. Materials and Methods: For each of the subjects, a thorough clinical examination followed by Colposcopic assessment was carried out for the selection of biopsy site from the involved mucosa. The histopathological fi ndings were then compared in the two cases and results analyzed. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis was performed using a paired t-test. Results: In our study, sensitivity and specifi city for the selection of biopsy site by Colposcopic examination was found to be higher for leukoplakia than for carcinoma buccal mucosa. Conclusions: It was concluded that Colposcopic examination was found to be signifi cant in the selection of biopsy site for leukoplakia while clinical criterion was found to be more appropriate for carcinoma buccal mucosa cases.
ABSTRACT
Background: The role of oxygen free radicals in the initiation, promotion and progression of carcinogenesis and the protective role of anti-oxidant defenses have been the subject of much speculation in the recent past with confl icting reports in the literature. Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure the concentration/levels of serum total proteins, albumin and advanced oxidation protein products as markers of oxidative stress in sera of patients with an oral pre-cancerous lesion and frank oral cancer. Materials and methods: The study consisted of sera analysis of 30 new patients of histologically proven well-differentiated, oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 patients, clinically diagnosed with a potentially malignant epithelial lesion, speckled leukoplakia, aged between 40 to 60 years, in addition to 25 healthy controls. One way analyses of variance were used to test the difference between groups. The normality of data was checked before the statistical analysis was performed. Results: The study revealed variations in sera levels of albumin and advanced oxidation protein products to be statistically signifi cant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results obtained emphasize the need for more studies with larger sample sizes to be conducted before a conclusive role could be drawn in favour of sera levels of total protein, albumin and advanced oxidation protein products as markers of diagnostic signifi cance and of the transition from the various oral pre-cancerous lesions and conditions into frank oral cancers.