Oral cancer: FAQ

The efficacy of clinical examination in detecting intraoral malignances has recently been called into question, as it does not accurately predict the histological diagnosis. A brief reexamination of one study provides some insights into what this means to the clinician. Making a diagnosis on the basis of a clinical examination may result in a false-positive finding and unnecessary treatment. However, a more significant concern would be a false-negative finding, in which disease is present but not detected and therefore not treated. The most effective preventive strategy is to help patients reduce or eliminate dangerous habits, and to remain alert for signs of potentially malignant or early-stage lesions, and perform routine visual and tactile examinations of all patients. A working knowledge of the clinical epidemiology of oral cancer, familiarity with the risk factors, signs and symptoms, together with continued vigilance in the form of regular, systematic and thorough clinical examination remains the most basic means of ensuring early detection of oral cancer and providing the best care possible.