Objective: The aim of this communication is to revise papers published on autofluorescence imaging, a non-invasive technique that is used to identify neoplastic oral cavity lesions.
Methods: A literature search was performed, using the PubMed database and the key words 'autofluorescence' and 'Velscope', limiting the search to papers in English or Spanish published from 2002 to June 2009.
Results: The Velscope(®) system has a sensitivity of 98-100% and specificity of 94-100%. Autofluoresence is a supplementary tool used in the diagnosis of oral cancer, although other more reliable and robust studies are needed for confirmation.
Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that its use as an adjunct to conventional oral screening provides additional benefit to conventional oral cancer screening alone.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.