An Overview of the Prevention of Oral Cancer and Diagnostic Markers of Malignant Change: 2. Markers of Value in Tumour Diagnosis

From Volume 27, Issue 3, April 2000 | Pages 148-152

Authors

M. Macluskey

BDS, FDS RCS

Lecturer in Oral Surgery, Unit of Oral Surgery and Medicine, Dundee Dental Hospital and School, University of Dundee

Articles by M. Macluskey

G.R. Ogden

BDS, MDSc, PhD, FDS RCPS

Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dundee Dental Hospital and School, University of Dundee

Articles by G.R. Ogden

Abstract

Earlier diagnosis of oral cancer should lead to an improvement in prognosis. This, the second part of a two-part overview, is concerned with the various cellular markers available for diagnosis of oral cancer. Traditionally diagnosis has relied upon the histomorphological interpretation of a tissue section following biopsy. The application of advances in various laboratory techniques for the identification of different cellular markers is briefly reviewed. In addition, although it is currently only a research tool, the potential role of oral exfoliative cytology in screening is considered.

Article