What constitutes a proper routine oral cancer examination for patients at low risk? Findings from a Delphi survey

A Delphi survey was used to develop a consensus opinion regarding what should constitute a routine oral cancer examination performed by general dentists when examining patients at low risk for oral cancer.

This Delphi survey consisted of 5 rounds and used, as the expert panel, a stratified national sample of academically based US oral surgeons, oral pathologists, and oral medicine specialists, that is, the persons who teach the identification and diagnosis of oral cancer to all future general practitioners.

After defining the population at low risk for oral cancer and the examination frequency in rounds 1 and 2, in rounds 3 to 5 the panelists evaluated and debated 28 proposed examination elements. They reached consensus agreement to include 25 of those elements and to exclude 2 of them, but the panel did not achieve consensus on the remaining element.

The panel reached consensus agreement on 25 recommended elements for an annual examination of patients at low risk for oral cancer.