Non-invasive techniques in the clinical diagnosis of oral epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma – the role of toluidine blue

Category: Oral Medicine

Autors: Duarte F., Trancoso P.

Reference: Rev Port Estomat Med Dent Cirurg Maxilofac 2000; 41(4):189-193
ISSN: 1646-2890

Abstract: The presence of oral epithelial dysplasia cannot be established by clinical examination of suspicious lesions, and, therefore relies on biopsy followed by histopathological examination of the tissues.
Since biopsy is an invasive method, the existence of other diagnostic techniques, less invasive but at the same time as accurate as histopathologic examination, are of value.
Toluidine blue has been used in the detection of neoplastic and pre-neoplastic lesions for the past few decades and its diagnostic value still remains uncertain, especially in what concerns to the detection of mild and moderate dysplastic lesions.
The purpose of this article is to review the available literature on the use of toluidine blue in order to assess its relevance in the non-invasive diagnosis of oral malignancy and pre-malignancy.