Detecting early oral cancer: narrowband imaging system observation of the oral mucosa microvasculature

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery 2010-03, Vol.39 (3), p.208-213
• Main Authors: Takano, J.H, Yakushiji, T, Kamiyama, I, Nomura, T, Katakura, A, Takano, N, Shibahara, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Capillaries - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - blood supply; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Dentistry; Early Detection of Cancer - methods; Endoscopy - methods; Female; Filtration - instrumentation; Gingiva - blood supply; Gingival Neoplasms - blood supply; Gingival Neoplasms - diagnosis; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; intrapapillary capillary loops; Leukoplakia, Oral - blood supply; Leukoplakia, Oral - diagnosis; Lip Diseases - diagnosis; Lip Neoplasms - blood supply; Lip Neoplasms - diagnosis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa - blood supply; Mouth Neoplasms - blood supply; Mouth Neoplasms - diagnosis; narrowband imaging; neoplastic lesions; Optical Devices; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Stomatitis, Aphthous - diagnosis; Surgery; Tongue - blood supply; Tongue Neoplasms - blood supply; Tongue Neoplasms - diagnosis; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2010.01.007

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the intrapapillary capillary loops (IPCL), which are a feature of early oral neoplastic lesions, using a narrowband imaging (NBI) system. Forty-one patients (26 men, 15 women; mean age, 52.34 years; range, 23–83 years) presenting with non-neoplastic or neoplastic lesions, and normal cases, were examined using the prototype Evis Lucera Spectrum (Olympus Co.). The images were analyzed and an IPCL classification was devised. All normal cases ( n = 10) had regularly distributed capillary loops of the same shape (type I). Non-neoplastic lesions ( n = 8) had mild changes of the capillary loops (types II and III) and neoplastic lesions ( n = 23) were irregularly distributed and had several loop shapes (types III and IV). The microvascular organization of non-neoplastic lesions was notably different from that of neoplastic lesions. A brownish area was found in five cases of early carcinoma. The narrowband imaging system is a potential approach for clinically analyzing microvascular organization and IPCL. It could be useful for diagnosing oral squamous cell carcinoma at an earlier stage and for determining the margin of resection.