Why is Mouth Self-Examination Still Not Recommended for Early Detection of Oral Cancer and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders?

Authors

  • Beatriz Monteiro da Silva Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Divisão de Pesquisa Clínica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6850-297X
  • José Alexandre da Rocha Curvelo Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Divisão de Pesquisa Clínica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3240-941X
  • Ruteléia dos Santos Assumpção Barroso Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Divisão de Pesquisa Clínica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5821-5757
  • João Vitor Silveira de Azevedo Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Divisão de Pesquisa Clínica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6073-0154
  • Andreia Cristina de Melo Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Divisão de Pesquisa Clínica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1201-4333
  • Daniel Cohen-Goldemberg Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Divisão de Pesquisa Clínica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico. University College London (UCL). London (UK). https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0089-1910

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32635/2176-9745.RBC.2025v71n1.4908

Keywords:

Mouth Neoplasms, Self-Examination, Diagnosis

Abstract

Oral self-examination still remains enigmatic considering its functionality in detecting malignant disorders in the mouth. Although this tool is not concretely implemented in any health service, several studies have considered it as a real possibility for the screening and the early diagnosis of oral cancer. However, the heterogeneity of the methodologies applied in these studies makes their results inconsistent and imprecise, making the validation of oral self-examination impossible to date. Thus, once the methodological issues that compromise the real efficacy of self-examination have been resolved, this tool should be used and perhaps be considered essential as a strategy to detect malignant lesions, contributing to more favorable outcomes for oral cancer in public health.

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References

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Published

2025-02-03

How to Cite

1.
Silva BM da, Curvelo JA da R, Barroso R dos SA, Azevedo JVS de, Melo AC de, Cohen-Goldemberg D. Why is Mouth Self-Examination Still Not Recommended for Early Detection of Oral Cancer and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders?. Rev. Bras. Cancerol. [Internet]. 2025 Feb. 3 [cited 2025 Dec. 5];71(1):e-184908. Available from: https://rbc.inca.gov.br/index.php/revista/article/view/4908

Issue

Vol. 71 No. 1 (2025): Jan./Feb./Mar.

Section

OPINION ARTICLE

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