title: Evaluation of a suspicious oral mucosal lesion.
abstract: Dentists who encounter a change in the oral mucosa of a patient must decide whether the abnormality requires further investigation. In this paper, we describe a systematic approach to the assessment of oral mucosal conditions that are thought likely to be premalignant or an early cancer. These steps, which include a comprehensive history, step-by-step clinical examination (including use of adjunctive visual tools), diagnostic testing and formulation of diagnosis, are routinely used in clinics affiliated with the British Columbia Oral Cancer Prevention Program (BC OCPP) and are recommended for consideration by dentists for use in daily practice.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia and Department of Oral Oncology, BC Cancer Agency/Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors.forename: P Michele
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Catherine F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Poh
authors.forename: Allan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hovan
authors.forename: Samson
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Miriam P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rosin
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001706:Biopsy; D001955:British Columbia; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010808:Physical Examination; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D012907:Smoking; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D014048:Tolonium Chloride