LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. (“LED” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: LMD) is pleased to announce the results of a meta-analysis on the clinical use of autofluorescence to assess its accuracy for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and investigate its applicability in general dental practice. The study by Luo et al 1 titled “Accuracy of Autofluorescence in Diagnosing Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: A Comparative Study with Aero-Digestive Lesions” was published in Scientific Reports, an online, open access journal from the publishers of Nature, a leading weekly international scientific journal.
The study was a meta-analysis of previously published data to assess the accuracy of autofluorescence in diagnosing OSCC and OPMD and reported the findings of statistical analyses conducted on 24 previously reported studies detecting OSCC and OPMD in 2761 total lesions. The study reported a pooled sensitivity and specificity of the use of autofluorescence for the detection of OSCC and OPMD of 0.89 and 0.80 respectively and concluded that autofluorescence is a promising, non-invasive tool for the early diagnosis of OSCC and OPMD. The study’s authors also remark that using autofluorescence technology as an adjunctive imaging tool may be most reliable in the hands of oral specialists but that the use of promising clinical decision making algorithms could facilitate its adoption in primary care.
“The results of this study will be of great interest to patients and practitioners alike,” commented Dr. David Gane, CEO of LED. “The results further validate the use of autofluorescence-based imaging tools, such as the VELscope, in the management of oral tissue abnormalities, including oral cancer. This report adds to the growing body of evidence that corroborates the use of the VELscope as an effective adjunct in screening for the presence of oral cancers and pre cancers. As acknowledged in the study, adjunct diagnostic aids are desperately needed by front-line dental practitioners to facilitate the early detection of OSCC and dysplasia.”
Dr. David Morgan, CTO of LED’s wholly-owned subsidiary, LED Dental Inc., remarked, “The authors’ conclusion pertaining to the importance of using autofluorescence within a clinical decision-making algorithm for general practitioners is something that we wholeheartedly support and have been advocating for years. It is also important to note that although this study is a very thorough analysis of the peer-reviewed literature relating to early diagnosis, the VELscope Vx is not approved as a standalone diagnostic device but rather as an adjunct to enhance the visualization of oral abnormalities.”
There are more than 40,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed in the United States alone every year and early detection is critical for survival; when oral cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate rises from less than 50% to more than 80%. VELscope systems are used during more examinations for oral cancer and other oral diseases than any other adjunctive device. For more information, visit www.velscope.com.
1 “Accuracy of Autofluorescence in Diagnosing Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: A Comparative Study with Aero-Digestive Lesions” has been published online in the Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group (Scientific Reports, Article number: 29943, Published online: July 15, 2016, doi:10.1038/srep29943). For access to the complete study, visit http://www.nature.com/articles/srep29943.
