VELscope
PRESENTED BY:
ASHLEY MAYEUX, DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENT
BRANDY DICKE, DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENT
LAMAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM
Introduction:
VELSCOPE: NEW DENTAL RELATED TECHNOLOGY
ORAL CANCER AUTO FLUORESCENT ADJUNCT TOOL
CLINICIANS RESPONSIBILITY TO DETECT DYSPLASIA
(ABNORMAL GROWTH OR DEVELOPMENT) AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE
MOST EARLY CANCEROUS LESIONS OFTEN ASYMPTOMATIC AND LACK
VISUAL CLUES
VELSCOPE CAN AID IN THE DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS PROCESS
Oral Cancer:
One of the most common cancers with an extremely high and fast
mortality rate
Benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions can appear in a variety of
ways to no visual clues at all
Treatment can result in major disfigurement, social life and self-esteem
issues or worse, death
30,000 patients diagnosed with oral cavity and oral pharyngeal cancer
yearly
40% of these patients will die within 5 years of their diagnosis
Oral cancer screening:
Traditional oral cancer screening: The use of white light in visual inspection
and palpation of the tissues of the head, neck, and mouth
Patients should be educated on routine self-examination as well
Squamous cell carcinoma signs and symptoms:
Induration, persistent ulceration, tissue proliferation or destruction,
red or white in color, lack of mucosal mobility, progressive growth
or enlargement of the affected site, pain or abnormal sensation,
paresthesia and cervical lymphadenopathy
Early dysplasia often presents no clinical signs and is undiagnosed until
a later, more serious stage
Oral cancer screening
continued:
Imperative that patients receive a routine screening in order to detect any change in their
oral cavity that could be a precursor to a diagnosis
If oral cancer is caught in stage 1, the patient has a greater possibility of winning the fight for
their life
Oral cancer screenings are one of the most important aspects
of our job, and it is our duty to provide this service to the best
of our ability
As healthcare professionals, we should always be looking for
advancements in our field that could be beneficial to our
patients
Tissue auto fluorescence:
A little over 30 years ago, it was determined that tissue
fluorescence could be used in cancer detection
Began in use with bronchoscopy, esophageal,
colonoscopy, and skin evaluation
Has become a recent growing interest in clinical practice
for noninvasive imaging of the oral mucosa
Self induced fluorescent lighting used to detect lesions in
natural tissues within the body
Tissue auto fluorescence
Continued :
The pattern of auto fluorescence is modified by absorption and scattering
The idea behind tissue auto fluorescence is that changes in the structure
and metabolism, alter their interaction with light
The epithelial and stroma changes can alter the distribution of tissue
fluorophores, and as a consequence, the way they fluoresce after
stimulation with intense blue excitation light
1. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma on palatal mucosa
2. With secondary infection and red glow from bacteria
using different fluorescent cytosol molecules under
fluorescent light
Other light based products
available:
1. Vizilite Plus with TBlue System:
Use a chemiluminescent light stick
and tissue dye
2. Identifi: A multi-spectral fluorescence
used to enhance visualization
3. Microlux/DL: Uses a 1% acetic
acid pre-rinse for the patient and
diffused blue-white LED light source
4. Oroscoptic DK: Also uses a 1%
acetic acid pre-rinse and an LED light
source to illuminate the mirrors reflection
VELscope:
Visually Enhanced Lesion scope
Developed in collaboration with British Columbia Cancer Agency
and MD Anderson Cancer Center
FDA Approved in November 2011
Light-weight, handheld, cordless device with a lens for viewing
inside of the mouth
Can also include a digital camera that attaches to the VELscope
device:
Allows the operator to take fluorescent light photos
Can be useful for documentation in the patients file and in
tracking the progression of the lesion
VELscope Continued:
Aids in the detection of possible precancerous or cancerous oral
lesions
Stimulates the oral soft tissues with a blue light
Non-evasive, oral cancer screening procedure that
detects changes of the tissue by self-fluorescence
When the clinician looks through the lens, the healthy oral tissues will
appear green
If the tissues are abnormal, they will appear as an irregular, dark
area
Advantages:
Cordless, light-weight, and uses no rinses or dyes
Non-invasive procedure with easy, setup and use
Can easily provide photo documents for future reference
Screenings are affordable for patients ranging from $0-15
Reinforces the idea of a caring dental practice
Most importantly, could save a patients life
Disadvantages:
Used as an adjunct to the traditional oral cancer screening
Not a replacement to traditional screening method
Possible patient discomfort from excessive heat in a close tissue
examination
Expensive initial purchase
Conclusion:
Oral cancer screenings are an extremely important aspect of a hygienists
job
It is our responsibility to provide this service to the best of our ability
We should be knowledgeable about emerging technologies and any efforts
made to improve our practice
VELscope can help locate cancerous lesions in their earliest stages where
the naked eye cannot
Could be the difference between life and death for a patient
Works Cited:
Yalnkaya, ebnem Eralk. "A Light Based Screening Method Based On Tissue Autofluorescence for Oral
Precancerous Lesions: A Review." Journal of Marmara University Institute Of Health Sciences 3.2
(2013): 107-113. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
Paulis, Marie. "The Influence Of Patient Education By The Dental Hygienist: Acceptance Of The
Fluorescence Oral Cancer Exam." Journal Of Dental Hygiene 83.3 (2009): 134-140. Academic
Search Complete. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
Lopez-Jornet, P, and T De la Mano-Espinosa. "The Efficacy Of Direct Tissue Fluorescence Visualization In
Screening For Oral Premalignant Lesions In General Practice: An Update." International
Journal Of Dental Hygiene 9.2 (n.d.): 97-100. Science Citation Index. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
Emmott, DDS, Larry. "Emmott On Technology: Cutting Edge Oral Cancer Screening With VELscope Vx."
Dental Compare. N.p., 09 12 2013. <[Link]
Emmott-On-Technology- Cutting-Edge-Oral-Cancer-Screening-With-VELscope-Vx/>. Web. 10 Apr
2014.
Videira, MD, Gabriela, and Mrio Arajo, RDH. "VELscope is a non-invasive oral cancer- screening
device." Dentistry IQ. N.p., 07 02 2012. <[Link]
[Link]>. Web. 10 Apr 2014.
Efthimiadis, Nick. "Oral cancer velscope." Dentistry IQ. [Link]
[Link], 01 03 2014. Web. 14 Apr 2014.
Mehrotra, Ravi, and RaviDwijendra K. Gupta. "Exciting new advances in oral cancer diagnosis:
avenues to early detection." Springer Link. N.p., 07 28 2011.
<[Link] Web. 10 Apr 2014.
Photos Cited:
Oral cancer and VELscope screening: [Link]
Oral cancer:
[Link]
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content%252Fuploads%252F2011%252F09%252FOral-Cancer-
[Link]%3Bhttp%253A%252F%[Link]%252Foral-cancer%252F%3B745%3B533
Vizilite Plus with TBlue system:
[Link]
rce=univ&sa=X&ei=WgthU7fLDIaCyAHKx4GADw&ved=0CDwQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=899
Identifi:
[Link]
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[Link]%3Fitemid%3D307402&ei=aA5hU_2cNrPCyAGGqYCABA&bvm=bv.65636070,[Link]&psig=AFQjCNE6xuEYQ5
anZtDeGxGOjLLqU0S0LA&ust=1398955806759158
Microlux/DL:
[Link]
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a2%2F7913-oral-cancer-detection-device-
addent&ei=pQ9hU72jJYm9yAGPhoCgAg&bvm=bv.65636070,[Link]&psig=AFQjCNEh4GR-
pcxxln0dyGpm9NubElsu7Q&ust=1398956185323822
Oroscoptic DK:
[Link]
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ce%2Ftechnology%2Forascoptic-dk-cancer-
screening&ei=dRBhU6zFK6T4yQHM6YCIAQ&bvm=bv.65636070,[Link]&psig=AFQjCNGYelxv7cTMW1kygXHnT9YJTo
aRCA&ust=1398956400927817
Oral cancer pictures:
[Link]
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ZBVhU_zKG8K6yAGQoID4BQ&bvm=bv.65636070,[Link]&psig=AFQjCNG2kMx9ot4Hj77Eq9JEo2jNOmR_5A&ust=139
8957691260374
