Methods: 20 consecutive post operative laser surgery patients with varying grades of dysplasia and oral cancer were recruited into the study. There were 8 females (mean age70.5y) and 11 males (mean age 69.6y). Velscope® examination was undertaken a mean of 21.5months post laser surgery (1-77months). Clinical appearence of lesions was recorded with and without Velscope®. Areas where scar tissue existed and showed poor tissue reflectance with Velscope® underwent incisional biopsy. Qualitative comparisons between site of mucosa examined and clinical versus velscope examination were undertaken using chi square analysis.
Results: Clinical examination revealed scar tissue at the site of the original lesion in 100% cases. In 8/20 (40%) cases, Velscope® revealed a dark area around the scar consistent with possible dysplasia. This was not proven histologically in any of the 8 cases and only hyperkeratosis was reported.
Positive Velscope® appearance was not significantly related to time since laser surgery, but was related to site of the mouth with floor of the mouth showing positive Velscope® response in scar tissue in all cases examined p>0.05. Scar tissue in keratinised mucosa of the palate,gingivae and tongue gave negative Velscope® response in all cases.
Conclusions: Velscope® is not a useful tool in oral precancer follow up following laser surgery and conventional examination and biopsy should remain the gold standard.