Oral Brush Biopsy for Detecting Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Mehrotra Ravi, Mishra Sanjay, Singh Mamta, Singh Mangal
Primary Institution: Moti Lal Nehru Medical College
Hypothesis
The study aims to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of oral brush biopsy in identifying oral premalignant and malignant lesions.
Conclusion
The oral brush biopsy is an accurate test for identifying oral premalignant and malignant lesions, even if they appear minimally suspicious.
Supporting Evidence
- The sensitivity of the brush biopsy was 96.3%, indicating it accurately identified most cases of dysplasia or carcinoma.
- The specificity for positive brush biopsy results was 100%, meaning it correctly identified benign lesions.
- The positive predictive value of an abnormal brush biopsy was 84%, showing it is likely to indicate a true abnormality.
- The negative predictive value was 98%, indicating it is very reliable in ruling out disease.
Takeaway
Doctors can use a special brush to take samples from the mouth to check for early signs of cancer, which is less painful than traditional methods.
Methodology
Patients underwent both oral brush and scalpel biopsies, and results were compared.
Potential Biases
Subjectivity in determining which lesions were minimally suspicious may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study did not re-biopsy patients with abnormal brush biopsies and negative scalpel biopsies to confirm results.
Participant Demographics
The mean age was 45.5 years, with a sex ratio of 55 males to 30 females; over 50% consumed tobacco or alcohol.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 87%-100%
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website