The purpose of this study was to compare oral findings using two exam types, the VELscope Vx® screening device versus a modified oral examination in detecting oral potentially malignant lesions in shisha smokers.
Methods: Thirty-one participants who reported currently smoking shisha and tobacco were recruited. Participants were identified for smoking habits to include two groups, to include those who reported smoking shisha exclusively and those who reported smoking shisha and tobacco. Each group received both exam types; examiners used a standardized protocol. A health history questionnaire was also collected to assess participant\u27s oral cancer risk factors such as age, race, history of cancer, history of human papillomaviru.s, alcohol use, and length of time smoking. This demographic information was collected and compared across the two groups.
Results: Of the 31 participants, 58% smoked shisha exclusively and 42 % smoked shisha and tobacco. Seventy-two percent of exclusive shisha smokers were male, 61 % were Asian, and the majority of study participants (89%) were between the ages of 19 and 34. No oral lesions were observed using VELscope Vx ® technology or modified oral examination.
Conclusion: Due to the majority (89%) of the population being under 35 years of age, this population was not in an age group high risk for oral cancer. Exclusive shisha smokers were predominately Asian males. Alcohol was not found to be a significant risk factor for this study. Overall, a larger sample size is needed to determine the effectiveness of the VELscope compared to the traditional clinical oral cancer examination in shisha smokers
