Recent advances in diagnosis & treatment of oral cancer

Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. A key factor in the lack of improvement in prognosis over the years is the fact that a significant proportion of oral SCCs are not diagnosed or treated until they reach an advanced stage. This diagnostic delay may be caused by either patients (who may not report unusual oral features) or health care workers (who may not investigate observed lesions thoroughly), and it is presumed that such delays are longer for asymptomatic lesions. Identification of high-risk oral premalignant lesions and intervention at premalignant stages could constitute one of the keys to reducing the mortality, morbidity and cost of treatment associated with SCC.