Dental News - Novel portable probe detects early oral cancer

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 9 May 2012

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AUSTIN, Texas, USA: In order to reduce the time taken to diagnose oral cancer, researchers have developed the first prototype of a handheld detection device capable of fast imaging with a large field of view. They said that this miniature confocal probe could be used by dentists to screen for early-stage cancer cells in the future.

According to researchers from the University of Texas at Austin's Department of Biomedical Engineering, death rates associated with oral cancer have historically been high compared with other malignancies owing to its late diagnosis. They predict that around 640,000 cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed worldwide this year, with 40,000 cases in America alone.

"To achieve a higher survival rate, early and on-site diagnostic methods are much needed in oral health programs. The compact handheld confocal imaging system shows great promise for clinical early oral cancer diagnosis and treatment," the researchers concluded.

The probe uses a laser to illuminate the examination area and a micro-mirror, an instrument also used in barcode scanners. The micro-mirror is controlled by micro-electromechanical systems, enabling the laser beam to scan the area as programmed.

"The device allows high-resolution imaging to differentiate cancer cells from normal epithelial cells and further produce in-depth imaging of a few hundred micrometers beneath the surface tissue to form three dimensional images to facilitate early cancer diagnosis and even real-time surgical guidance of the tumor sites," according to John X.J. Zhang, associate professor at the department.

Traditionally, oral cancer has been diagnosed by biopsy, a process that can take up to several weeks and can be costly, invasive and painful, the researchers said. The handheld probe could thus be used as a diagnostic instrument to detect precursors of carcinoma already during routine dental examinations.

Preclinical trials showed good correspondence with control images acquired from conventional laboratory microscopes. In order to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the probe, they are currently planning clinical trials.

They predict that with a few adjustments the device could be built for one-fourth of the cost to build the microscopes currently used in diagnosis, which is around US$300,000.

The paper was published online on Apr. 27 in the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering ahead of print.

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