ADVANCEMENTS IN NON-INVASIVE SCREENING TECHNIQUES FOR ORAL POTENTIALLY MALIGNANT DISORDERS AND ORAL CANCER: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) presents a significant health burden worldwide, ranking sixth among cancers and leading to substantial morbidity and mortality in the head and neck region. Early cancer treatment improves patient outcomes, emphasizing the importance of timely detection. However, achieving early diagnosis, particularly in remote or resource-limited areas, is challenging. While biopsy remains the gold standard, non-invasive screening techniques are gaining prominence due to their accessibility and effectiveness. These technologies offer the potential to extend screening capabilities to non-specialists and rural areas, enhancing analysis quality and objectivity while reducing the need for highly trained specialists. This shift towards non-invasive screening methods marks a promising step towards improving cancer detection and treatment outcomes globally. This systematic review focuses on a few advanced non invasive screening techniques such as confocal microscopy, DNA Image cytometry, Salivary Biomarkers and Artificial Intelligence.