Optical Device Detects Developing Oral Cancer

A customized optical device that facilitates early detection of oral cancer will help dentists decide whether it is necessary to biopsy abnormal lesions in the mouth.

Developed by Dr. Calum MacAulay, head of the British Columbia Cancer Research Center's (Vancouver, Canada) imaging program, and post-doctoral fellow Pierre Lane, the visually enhanced lesion scope VELScope is a lightweight, hand-held device. A flexible cord is attached to the examination light, and a view finder allows direct evaluation of lesions in real time. The VELScope emits a cone of light into the mouth that excites molecules in cells causing them to absorb the light energy and reemit it as visible fluorescence. Using the VELScope, a light can be shone onto a suspicious sore in the mouth, which can be viewed through the attached eyepiece. Normal oral tissue emits a pale green fluorescence, while potentially early tumor or dyplastic cells appear dark green to black.

Scientists tested the VELScope by evaluating 50 tissue sites in the mouths of 44 individuals. From biopsies, pathologists classified seven as normal, 11 had severe dysplasia, and 33 were squamous carcinoma. Reading the fluorescence patterns of the 50 sites, the group correctly identified all of the normal biopsies, 10 of the severe dysplasias, and all of the carcinomas.

These results were published online in the April 2006 issue of the Journal of Biomedical Optics. Dr. Miriam Rosin, a senior author of the paper and cancer biologist at the British Columbia Cancer Research Center said, "The natural fluorescence of the mouth is invisible to the naked eye. The VELScope literally brings this natural fluorescence to light, helping dentists to answer in a more informed way a common question in daily practice: to biopsy or not to biopsy.”

The researchers were supported by the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (Bethesda, MD, USA), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.



Related Links:
British Columbia Cancer Research Center