RESUMO
The oral mucosa represents the first part of the digestive tract and is exposed to various exogenous toxins. Exposure for longer duration can lead to changes that lead to potentially malignant diseases or cancers / Tumors. Eventually these can be diagnosed by routine histopathology, but few of them are difficult to diagnose by this method alone. There arises the role of tumor markers in distinguishing different pathologies is well established. A marker can be described as some inconspicuous object used to distinguish or mark certain things. Mostly tumor markers are proteins and these markers may be detected within exfoliated or distributed cells, or as circulating agents within the peripheral blood or plasma. In the recent years, there is a renewed interest about tumor markers, providing window of opportunity for management of cancer patients by enhancing the efficiency in detection and treatment plan. Recent technological advancement has enabled the examination of many potential markers. This paper focuses on the tumor markers in the head and neck neoplasm.
RESUMO
Leukoplakia of the buccal mucosa is considered a premalignant lesion according to the WHO classifi cation with a malignant transformation rate of 0-20%, especially among men above 40 years of age with a smoking history. Along with the active screening procedures, there is also growing brilliance in surgical interventions aimed at the eradication of such fatal diseases. Laser ablation using diode lasers is one such well-accepted prophylactic treatment modality among clinicians and patients along with low recurrence rates. We have aimed to support this article with the case report of the patient with leukoplakia, who was being treated with a diode laser that unveiled the brilliance of this technique with enhanced healing.