title: Oral cancer: a prosthodontic diagnosis.
abstract: The prosthodontic literature is replete with articles addressing the reconstruction, psychological adaptation, prosthesis success, quality of life, need for careful follow-up, and many other issues related to the patient who has undergone surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy for oral malignant neoplasms. However, in the prosthodontic professional literature, there is a paucity of information related to the early diagnosis and referral of lesions that may represent premalignant or malignant neoplasia. This article will describe the rationale, epidemiology, and appearance of oral premalignant and malignant mucosal lesions as well as the state-of-the-art diagnostic tools currently available to prosthodontists to ensure that their patients are diagnosed at the earliest possible time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018, USA. masiegel@nova.edu
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Mitzi J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Palazzolo
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004919:Erythroplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008027:Light; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology