Mouth cancer: presentation, detection and referral in primary dental care

Mouth cancer can present as a variety of abnormalities and visible changes affecting the oral mucosa, including ulceration, swelling and areas of erythema. The five-year survival from mouth cancer is poor at approximately 50%. Detection of the cancer while less than 2 cm in diameter with no metastasis greatly improves the outcome for the patient. Although many cancers in the mouth develop from what was previously an apparently normal mucosa, some arise in pre-existing conditions that are therefore regarded as potentially malignant. Regular assessment of the soft tissues within the mouth and the neck for the presence of abnormalities is an essential component of primary dental care. Any persistent and unexplained abnormality requires referral for definitive diagnosis and specialist management

Líquen plano oral (LPO): diagnóstico clínico e complementar Oral lichen planus (OLP): clinical and complementary diagnosis

O líquen plano é uma desordem comum do epitélio escamoso estratificado que acomete as mucosas oral e genital, a pele, as unhas e o couro cabeludo. O líquen plano oral (LPO) afeta mulheres de meiaidade e apresenta padrões e distribuição característicos, como estriações brancas, pápulas ou placas brancas, eritema, erosões e bolhas, que podem estar associadas a medicações e/ou materiais dentários no paciente. O diagnóstico clínico somente poderá ser feito se a doença apresentar padrões clássicos, como lesões concomitantes na mucosa oral e na pele. O diagnóstico laboratorial por meio do exame histopatológico se caracteriza pela presença de projeções do epitélio em forma de dentes de serra e corpos de Civatte, e possibilita excluir condições de displasia e malignidade. A imunofluorescência direta é utilizada em suspeita de outras doenças, como pênfigo e penfigoide. O LPO é tratado com agentes anti-inflamatórios, principalmente, corticosteroides tópicos, e novos agentes e técnicas têm-se demonstrado eficazes. A transformação maligna do LPO e sua incidência exata permanecem controversas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar, com base na revisão da literatura, a etiopatogenia, o diagnóstico clínico, exames complementares e complicações do LPO.<br>Lichen planus is a common disorder of the stratified squamous epithelium that affects oral and genital mucous membranes, skin, nails, and scalp. Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) affects middle-aged women and shows distribution patterns and characteristics such as white striations, white plaques or papules, erythema, blisters and erosions, and may be associated with medication and/or dental materials used by the patient. The clinical diagnosis can only be made if the disease presents classical patterns such as concomitant lesions in the oral mucosa and skin. The laboratory diagnosis is histopathologically characterized by the presence of projections of the epithelium in the form of sawtooth and Civatte bodies and allows the exclusion of dysplasia and malignancy. Direct immunofluorescence is used when there is suspicion of other diseases, such as pemphigus and pemphigoid. OLP is treated with anti-inflammatory agents, particularly topical corticosteroids; new agents and techniques have proved effective. The malignant transformation of OLP and its exact incidence remain controversial. This work aims at presenting, through literature review, the etiopathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, laboratory tests, and complications of OLP