title: Demographic and clinical factors associated with referrals and compliance to biopsy of oral and maxillofacial lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The gold standard for diagnosing oral disease is tissue biopsy. Data regarding compliance with advised oral and maxillofacial (OMF) biopsy are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify compliance and evaluate the demographics and clinical factors associated with referrals and compliance with OMF biopsy procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of military personnel referred for a biopsy (RB; N = 669) of OMF lesions over a 4-year period were studied retrospectively. These patients were divided into performed the biopsy (PB; N = 386) and not perform biopsy (NPB; N = 283) groups. Demographic and clinical features were analyzed, and demographics were compared to a control group of general military personnel (N > 100,000).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RB group differed from the control group regarding age >21 (OR = 1.681, P < 0.001) and education >12 years of schooling (OR = 1.545, P < 0.001). Differences between the PB and NPB groups related to the clinical features of the lesion but not to demographic parameters. Exophytic and suspected potentially malignant/malignant lesions were positively associated with higher compliance to biopsy (OR = 1.75, P = 0.004 and OR = 2.18, P = 0.017, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Referrals to biopsy of OMF lesions are significantly influenced by age and education, whereas compliance is influenced by clinical features or suspected malignancy. Clinicians and health authorities should be aware of non-compliance, enhance awareness to biopsy as the gold standard in the diagnostic workup of OMF lesions, and closely monitor compliance patterns of patients with clinical and demographic risk factors.
authors.forename: Rakefet
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Czerninski
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zadik
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vered
authors.forename: Talia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yahalom
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derazne
authors.forename: Doron J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Aframian
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almoznino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult