Methods:DESIGN: A controlled study in which dental clinicians were allowed to choose only one diagnosis for a suspected oral SCC and results were compared with the histological diagnosis. SETTING:University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. SUBJECTS:Residents and consultants, in oral diagnosis unit of the department of oral medicine/oral pathology.
Results:The study covered a ten year period, during which a total of 1562 biopsies were reported. Sixty eight (68)of these were histologically confirmed as squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical diagnosis accuracy among clinicians was 72.1%, sensitivity was 86.0%, specificity 99.3%. Predictive value positive was 86.0% while predictive value negative was 99.5%.
Conclusion: With the high mortality rate in patients with SCC among Africans, resulting from multiplicity of factors of which delay in presentation, and inadequate management facility are common, the need to improve on the present diagnostic ability among African clinicians is crucial and desirable. Early diagnosis will definitely translate into low mortality.