Study shows the use of a VELscope when determining surgical margins for excision of early-stage oral cancer leads to significant reduction of local recurrence.
Vancouver, BC – LED Medical Diagnostics Inc is pleased to announce that the results of a study, titled “Fluorescence Visualisation-Guided Surgery for Early-Stage Oral Cancer”, have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association – Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
The publication reports the findings of a retrospective, case-control observational study that was conducted on 246 patients from September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2009. The study showed a significant reduction in the rate of local recurrence of early-stage squamous cell carcinoma and high-grade precancerous lesions in patients where VELscope tissue fluorescence visualisation was used to assist in determining the surgical margin for excision, compared to those patients where conventional methods were used.
“This is really a revolutionary way for surgeons to visualise a diseased region,” stated Dr. Catherine Poh, principal investigator and Provincial Oral Medicine Leader for Oral Oncology at the BC Cancer Agency. “We are now working with head and neck surgeons across Canada to conduct a multi-centre trial that will convince the world to change practice and improve the treatment of oral cancer.”
“The results of this important clinical study will be of great interest to oral cancer patients and practitioners alike,” commented Dr. David Gane, CEO of LED. “It adds to the growing body of peer reviewed literature that corroborates the use VELscope as an effective adjunct in oral cancer treatment, while further supporting its use in concert with a comprehensive oral examination to screen for the presence of oral cancers and pre cancers.”
