Oral Cancer Screening
Screening checks the mouth for abnormal tissue before symptoms, while an abnormal finding leads to diagnostic tests rather than confirming cancer.
[3]The short answer
Oral cancer screening checks the mouth for abnormal tissue before symptoms appear, and an abnormal finding leads to diagnostic testing rather than confirming cancer.
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What is it?
Who needs it?
Does it hurt?
Screening is an examination that looks for abnormal tissue. If a lesion is seen, diagnostic procedures can include a blue dye, special light, a gentle cell scrape, or a brush biopsy.
[3]Is it safe?
An abnormal screening result does not prove cancer. Diagnostic testing is used to clarify what an abnormal result means.
[3]Screening tests are studied for their potential benefits and harms, including whether early detection can improve outcomes.
[3]How long does it last?
Screening looks for abnormal tissue before symptoms develop. When an abnormal result is found, further tests may be needed to establish what it is.
[3]The purpose of screening is early detection before symptoms, rather than waiting for changes in the mouth to cause symptoms.
[3]What happens during the procedure?
What is recovery like?
After an abnormal screening result, diagnostic tests may be needed to find out whether cancer is present.
[3]| Test | What happens |
|---|---|
| Toluidine blue or fluorescence staining | A lesion is coated with blue dye or viewed with special light to distinguish abnormal from normal tissue.[3] |
| Exfoliative cytology or brush biopsy | Cells are collected from the lesion and viewed under a microscope for abnormalities.[3] |
What are the alternatives?
What should you expect?
Screening may find an abnormal area before symptoms, but an abnormal result is a reason for diagnostic tests, not a cancer diagnosis. Finding disease early can make it easier to treat in some cancers.
[3]When cells are collected from a mouth lesion, they are examined under a microscope to check whether they are abnormal.
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Frequently asked questions
Does an abnormal oral cancer screening result mean I have cancer?
No. An abnormal result may require diagnostic tests to find out whether cancer is present.
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