0000000000077258
AUTHOR
Pablo Varela-centelles
Factors related to late stage diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Aims: To identify factors related to advanced-stage diagnosis of oral cancer to disclose high-risk groups and facilitate early detection strategies. Study design: An ambispective cohort study on 88 consecutive patients treated from January 1998 to December 2003. Inclusion criteria: pathological diagnosis of OSCC (primary tumour) at any oral site and suffering from a tumour at any TNM stage. Variables considered: age, gender, smoking history, alcohol usage, tumour site, macroscopic pattern of the lesion, co-existing precancerous lesion, degree of differentiation, diagnostic delay and TNM stage. Results: A total of 88 patients (mean age 60±11.3; 65.9% males) entered the study. Most patients (…
Assembling a consensus on actinic cheilitis: A Delphi study.
Aims: To discuss the terminology to define and classify actinic cheilitis (AC) and to build a consensus on the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to AC. Methods: Two-round Delphi study using a questionnaire including 34 closed sentences (9 on terminology and taxonomy, 5 on potential for malignant transformation, 12 on diagnostic aspects, 8 on treatment) and 8 open questions. Experts’ agreement was rated using a Likert scale (1–7). Results: A consensus was reached on 24 out 34 statements (73.5%) and on 5 out of 8 (62.5%) close-ended questions. The response rate was identical in both rounds (attrition of 0%). AC is the term with the highest agreement (median of 7 (strongly agree; IQR: 6–7)…
People would rather see a physician than a dentist when experiencing a long-standing oral ulceration. A population-based study in Spain
Background Primary care physicians have been reported to be the first choice for patients with oral ulcerations. This study investigates the health-seeking behaviour of lay public in Galicia (North-western Spain) if experiencing a long-standing oral ulceration. Material and Methods Cross-sectional population-based survey of randomly selected respondents conducted from March 1, 2015 to 30 June 2016. Results A total of 5,727 pedestrians entered the study (response rate: 53%), mostly in the 45-64 age group (30.2%; n=1,728), 47.7% of them (n=2,729) were males. Most participants (42.1%; n=2,411) reported to visit their dentist once a year and had secondary or compulsory education as their highes…
Simulation for training in sinus floor elevation: new surgical bench model
Objectives: to describe a bench model (workshop of abilities) for sinus floor elevation (SFE) training that simulates the surgical environment and to assess its effectiveness in terms of trainees’ perception. Study design: thirty-six randomly selected postgraduate students entered this cross-sectional pilot study and asked to fill in an anonymous, self-applied, 12-item questionnaire about a SFE workshop that included a study guide containing the workshop’s details, supervised practice on a simulated surgical environment, and assessment by means of specific check-lists. Results: Thirtiy-six fresh sheep heads were prepared to allow access to the buccal vestible. Using the facial tuber, third …
Assessment of time intervals in the pathway to oral cancer diagnosis in north-westerm Spain. Relative contribution of patient interval
Background Despite continuous advances in diagnosis and therapy, oral cancers are mostly diagnosed at advanced stages with minor survival improvements in the last two decades. Both phenomena have been attributed to delays in the diagnosis. This study aims at quantifying the time elapsed until definitive diagnosis in these patients and the patient interval’s contribution. Material and Methods A hospital-based, ambispective, observational study was undertaken on incident cases with a pathological diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma recruited during 2015 at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery services of CHUAC (A Coruña) and POVISA (Vigo) hospitals. Results 74 consecutive oral cancer pati…
Online audio-visual information on oral cancer for Spanish-speaking laypersons. A cross-sectional study
Background Lack of knowledge and awareness of oral cancer seem to be the main causes of diagnostic delay. Online resources are often used by patients to obtain health/medical information. However, there are no reports on the quality and usefulness of oral cancer audio-visual resources in Spanish. The aims of this investigation were to disclose the type of information about oral cancer available, and whether it may be useful to shorten the patients’ oral cancer appraisal time-interval. Material and Methods Cross-sectional study undertaken at three video-sharing sites on October, 13th 2019. Keywords: “Cáncer oral”; “cáncer de boca”. The first 100 results in each viewing list were retrieved by…
Oral cancer awareness in North-Western Spain: a population-based study
Background An early diagnosis depends greatly on patient awareness. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate general awareness of oral cancer and knowledge about its risk factors, signs and symptoms. Material and Methods Cross-sectional population-based survey of randomly selected respondents conducted from March 1, 2015 to 30 June 2016. Results A total of 5,727 people entered the survey (response rate: 53%). When asked what cancers participants had heard about, 20.3% mentioned oral cancer. Regarding risk factors, tobacco was mentioned by 55.3% of the sample (n=3,169), followed by alcohol (12.5%; n=708), poor oral hygiene (10.8%; n=618), diet (6.5%; n=377), and genetics (4.5%; n=248).…
Knowledge of oral cancer and preventive attitudes of Spanish dentists. Primary effects of a pilot educational intervention
Objective: To assess the knowledge and preventive attitudes that Spanish dentists have towards oral cancer, before and after an educational intervention. Methods: A quasi-experimental study based on a nationwide intervention. All Spanish dentists were offered an on-site course on oral cancer. An individual questionnaire was administered before and after attending the course. The main outcome measures were systematic examination of the oral cavity, promotion of healthy habits and knowledge of clinical aspects. Results: 440 GDPs entered the study. Age: 40.7±10.7, range 21-74. Professional experience: 13.9±8.9 years, range 0-45. Of those who participated in the study, 53.1% had never attended …
The use of clinical guidelines for referral of patients with lesions suspicious for oral cancer may ease early diagnosis and improve education of healthcare professionals
UNLABELLED Early diagnosis and referral of oral cancer is essential. Successful implementation of clinical guidelines must include current practitioners and students. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of students at oral cancer screening and to assess the effectiveness of clinical referral guidelines. STUDY DESIGN Fifth year dental students were randomly allocated to either control (n=19) or experimental groups (n = 18). Both received the customary training in oral diagnosis. The experimental group underwent a 2 hour workshop where the guidelines for the referral of suspicious lesions were discussed. Three months later, a set of 51 clinical cases including benign, malignant, and…
Distance of the alveolar antral artery from the alveolar crest. Related factors and surgical considerations in sinus floor elevation
Background In a variable proportion of maxillary sinuses alveolar antral artery is located close to the residual ridge, increasing the chances for haemorrhagic complications during sinus floor elevation procedures. Material and Methods Retrospective observational study of CBCT explorations performed for implant-treatment planning. The upper first molar area was selected for this study. The relative uncertainty (standard deviation of the measurement divided by its mean and expressed as a percentage from 0% to 100%) was chosen for determining the observational errors. For modeling the chances of AAA detection, the generalized additive models (GAM) approach was chosen. Results A total of 240 m…
Minor salivary gland biopsy in Sjögren's syndrome: a review and introduction of a new tool to ease the procedure
Objectives: To review the existing techniques for minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB) in the lip and to suggest a new approach to ease the procedure and reduce post-operative complications. Study Design: A comprehensive literature review and a descriptive study of a new surgical technique. Results: Diverse incisions have been suggested for MSGB with different designs (ellipse, circular, linear), different directions (parallel, oblique, vertical) and a wide range of lengths (from 1 mm up to 3 cm), but no comparative studies supporting the advantages of a particular type of incision over the others could be retrieved. A variety of features of the existing techniques for MSGB are linked to unde…
Oral mucosal peeling related to dentifrices and mouthwashes: A systematic review
Background The aim of this systematic review was to summarise the clinical information available about oral mucosal peeling (OMP) and to explore its aetiopathogenic association with dentifrices and mouthwashes. Material and Methods PICOS outline: Population: subjects diagnosed clinically and/or pathologically. Intervention: exposition to oral hygiene products. Comparisons: patients using products at different concentrations. Outcomes: clinicopathological outcomes (primary) and oral epithelial desquamation (secondary) after use. Study design: any. Exclusion criteria: reports on secondary or unpublished data, in vitro studies. Data were independently extracted by two reviewers. Results Fiftee…