Clinical P RACTIC E Evaluation of a Suspicious Oral Mucosal Lesion Contact Author P. Michele Williams, BSN, DMD, FRCD(C); Catherine F. Poh, DDS, PhD, FRCD(C); Allan J. Hovan, DMD, MSD, FRCD(C); Samson Ng, DDS, MSc, FRCD(C); Dr. Williams Email: Miriam P. Rosin, BSc, PhD
[email protected] ABSTRACT Dentists who encounter a change in the oral mucosa of a patient must decide whether the abnormality requires further investigation. In this paper, we describe a systematic approach to the assessment of oral mucosal conditions that are thought likely to be premalignant or an early cancer. These steps, which include a comprehensive history, step-by-step clinical examination (including use of adjunctive visual tools), diagnostic testing and formulation of diagnosis, are routinely used in clinics affiliated with the British Columbia Oral Cancer Prevention Program (BC OCPP) and are recommended for consideration by dentists for use in daily practice. For citation purposes, the electronic version is the definitive version of this article: www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-74/issue-3/275.html ver the course of a typical practice day, Approach a dentist will examine the mouths of The diagnostic process begins with a Omany patients. On occasion, a change history that includes a review of the patient’s in the oral mucosa will be detected. The chal- chief complaint followed by completion of a lenge is to decide whether the abnormality thorough medical history. Once this has been requires further investigation. If the answer obtained, a comprehensive clinical examina- is yes, the British Columbia Oral Cancer tion including extraoral, intraoral and mu- Prevention Program (BC OCPP) team recom- cosal lesion assessments should be completed.