Clinical Evaluation of the Optical Filter for Autofluorescence Glasses for Oral Cancer Curing Light Exposed (GOCCLES®) in the Management of Potentially Premalignant Disorders: A Retrospective Study

Background: Any oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) must be regularly monitored\r\nthrough clinical examination to detect any possible malignant transformation. Conventional\r\nintraoral exams, however, can be difficult because these conditions may resemble benign lesions.\r\nFor this reason, several non-invasive diagnostic technologies have been developed to help the clinician\r\nin detecting and distinguishing between cancerous and benign lesions. Epithelial dysplasia can\r\nbe considered the most important predictor of malignant evolution. Therefore, in this study we aim\r\nto evaluate the ability of an optical filter for autofluorescence Glasses for Oral Cancer Curing Light\r\nExposed (GOCCLES®) and of toluidine blue staining in identifying dysplastic areas in patients with\r\nOPMDs. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records, photographs and videos of 25 patients\r\nwith oral lesions were analyzed. Forty-two biopsy samples in 25 patients with OPMDs and at\r\nleast one suspicious oral mucosa lesion that were evaluated in white light, autofluorescence with\r\noptical filter GOCCLES®, toluidine blue staining and then biopsied with histopathological analysis\r\nwere analyzed. Results: The sensitivity and specificity for the autofluorescence evaluation with\r\nGOCCLES® for identifying dysplasia or carcinoma were 66% and 48%, respectively. The positive\r\nand negative predictive values were 34% and 77%, respectively, and the accuracy was 53%. The\r\nsensitivity and specificity for toluidine blue staining were 91% and 68%, respectively. The positive\r\nand negative predictive values were 55% and 95%, respectively, and the accuracy was 75%. Conclusions:\r\nThe optical filter for autofluorescence (GOCCLES®) and toluidine blue staining are simple,\r\ninexpensive, rapid and non-invasive procedures that can assist the clinician in distinguishing OPMDs\r\nfrom healthy mucosa but they are not able to distinguish benign and malignant lesions.