Review on Clinical Implications of Colposcopy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Practical Approach

The diagnosis of malignant and potentially malignant epithelial lesions of the oral mucosa cannot be based solely on clinical findings. Therefore, histologic evaluation of a representative biopsy specimen is necessary. However the site for the biopsy is always a subjective choice that sometimes raises doubts about its representativeness. Colposcopy, a well-known gynecological diagnostic procedure, is helpful in the selection of these epithelial dysplasia areas depending upon the vascular pattern. Hence, this study assesses the role of colposcopic examination in the selection of biopsy sites for carcinomas of the buccal mucosa. This study included 30 patients between the ages of 30-60 years who were clinically diagnosed with carcinoma of the buccal mucosa and a control group that consisted of 25 healthy, age-matched individuals. For each subject, a thorough clinical examination followed by colposcopic assessment was performed. The most representative site was selected for biopsy from the involved buccal mucosa. The biopsy specimens that measured 6 mm were obtained by punch biopsy and subjected to histopathologic examination. The histopathologic findings were then compared in the two cases. The sensitivity and specificity of biopsies performed on the basis of clinical criteria was found to be more appropriate compared to biopsies directed through colposcopic examination. From the study, it was concluded that clinical criterion was found to be more appropriate for the selection of biopsy specimens in cases of carcinoma of the buccal mucosa.