Narrow Band Imaging Oral Cancer Screening CSR Project

Development of a narrow-banded imaging in predicting the malignant potential of oral lesions in comparison with histopathological examination in a tertiary hospital in South India

Objective

• To develop an affordable and portable imaging system with a narrow band light source imaging of the oral cavity. To categorize clinically suspicious lesions of the oral cavity based on Narrow Band Imaging (NBI). To determine the accuracy of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) in predicting malignant potential of suspicious oral cavity lesions compared to the gold standard - histopathological examination. To qualify, validate and benchmark the product for implementation in rural, semi-urban and urban India, especially in public health centers and mobile clinics.

Description

• After the development of a portable narrow band light source, patients with suspicious oral cavity lesions will be recruited for examination under white light and narrow band light after an informed, written consent. Based on serial observations and using the classification proposed by Ni et al, we will attempt to derive a classification system for oral lesions as visualised on NBI. This will enable the narrow band light source to be used in outpatient and community settings for quick and reliable assessment of suspicious oral ulcers.

Impact

• Development of an affordable, portable narrow band light source for widespread use in the community to screen oral cancers. Assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of NBI as a biological endoscopic tool, by comparing it to the gold standard of histopathological examination. Benchmarking and realization of a classification system for suspicious oral ulcers based on appearance under NBI, for diagnosis and prognostication.