The Mucosal Examination System (Oral cancer screening)
Regular screening, early diagnosis, and treatment planning for oral cancer can save lives;
Oral healthcare professionals are the first line of defense in the fight against oral cancer;
Unlike several other cancers, the survival rate for oral cancer has remained unchanged for decades;
The overall 5-year survival rate for oral cancer is 52%, but when discovered early, it increases to over 80%;
Unfortunately, only 35% of oral cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages. Why? Because there have been few advances made in screening techniques and there are significant nlimitations inherent to white light and chemiluminescence light examination of the oral mucosa;
Pre-malignant changes actually start below the surface, at the basement membrane. These changes may not be apparent to the naked eye until the disease progresses to the surface;
How it Works
The VELscope works through tissue fluorescence – an optical phenomenon that causes abnormal tissue to appear a different color.
By regulating the illumination intensity and wavelength output, the VELscope Vx’s patented ‘ring-of-light’ illumination element causes healthy cells in the mouth to fluoresce, emitting a bright green glow. By contrast, potential areas of concern will show a marked lack of fluorescence, appearing dark when viewed against the healthy tissue.
Most people are aware that the fluorescence technology used by VELscope Vx can help a doctor locate oral cancer and premalignant dysplasia. But the fluorescence technology can also help the attending clinician locate lichen planus, lichenoid mucositis, squamous papillomas, candidiasis, viral and bacterial infections as-well-as inflammation from a variety of causes (e.g. trauma) and even salivary gland tumors.
