Document Type : Review Articles

Abstract

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the tenth most common malignant neoplasm. One of the key roles of general dental practitioners is the early diagnosis and referral of patients with oral lesions suspected of being malignant. The aim of this study was to review oral precancerous lesions and the steps necessary for their early diagnosis, especially in the general dental office. Review Report: In this study, PubMed, EBSCO, ISC, Google Scholar and other relevant database were searched for clinical features and differential diagnosis of premalignant lesions from 2000 to 2012. General dental practitioners may encounter oral lesions with a potential for malignancy during routine clinical examinations. Oral squamous cell carcinomas might have different clinical features. Application of toluidine blue staining and other new methods have been suggested for their early diagnosis. However, in some cases biopsies are necessary for definitive diagnosis. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of oral premalignant and malignant lesions decreases tissue destruction and improves the treatment outcome and prognosis. Therefore, general dental practitioners have a key role in the early diagnosis and referral of patients with oral lesions.   Key words: Cancer screening tests, Early detection of cancer, Squamous cell carcinoma