title: The efficacy of direct tissue fluorescence visualization in screening for oral premalignant lesions in general practice: an update.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this communication is to revise papers published on autofluorescence imaging, a non-invasive technique that is used to identify neoplastic oral cavity lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed, using the PubMed database and the key words 'autofluorescence' and 'Velscope', limiting the search to papers in English or Spanish published from 2002 to June 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Velscope(®) system has a sensitivity of 98-100% and specificity of 94-100%. Autofluoresence is a supplementary tool used in the diagnosis of oral cancer, although other more reliable and robust studies are needed for confirmation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that its use as an adjunct to conventional oral screening provides additional benefit to conventional oral cancer screening alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. majornet@um.es
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Jornet
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De la Mano-Espinosa
mesh_terms: D003748:Dental Equipment; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005453:Fluorescence; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis*