Use of methylene blue as a diagnostic aid in early detection of oral cancer and precancerous lesions

Use of methylene blue as a diagnostic aid in early detection of oral cancer and precancerous lesions
Accepted 31 August 2006. published online 7 November 2006.
Ya-Wei Chen, Jiun-Sheng Lin, Jenny Hwai-Jen Fong, I-Kai Wang, Shen-Ju Chou, Chen-Hsian Wu, Man-Tin Lui, Che-Shoa Chang, Shou-Yen Kao
British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Abstract
We assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of methylene blue staining in the diagnosis of oral cancer in 58 patients. The sensitivity was 90%, the specificity 69%, positive predictive value 74%, and negative predictive value 87%. Because of the number of false negatives and false positives we recommend that the diagnosis should always be confirmed by histopathological examination of a biopsy specimen. Methylene blue staining may, however, be useful as a screening tool for oral cancer in large, high-risk groups in a similar way to the more expensive toluidine blue.

Keywords: Oral cancer, Oral precancer, Methylene blue
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

Corresponding author at: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry, Taipei-Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sector II, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Tel.: +886 2 28757572; fax: +886 2 28742375.

PII: S0266-4356(06)00166-5

doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2006.08.017

© 2006 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

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