Polarized Reflectance Spectroscopy for Oral Lesions
Polarized Reflectance Spectroscopy for Oral Lesions
In this study the investigators are conducting research to determine whether a new optical
 device using polarization reflectance spectroscopy can help doctors or dentists identify
 abnormalities in the mouth that require follow-up. To establish this, measurements are needed
 from a large number of individuals with different abnormalities in their mouth.

 The investigators believe the proposed approach has potential to improve and enable mass
 screening for precancerous and early cancers of the oral cavity by improving the predictive
 value of oral cavity exams, particularly for less experienced practitioners.

 The information from this study will be compared to results from the pathology report of the
 tissue taken from your mouth.

 Hypothesis:

 1. Polarized reflectance spectroscopy can distinguish high-risk oral lesion from normal and
 reactive oral lesions.

 2. Polarized reflectance spectroscopy can capture low-grade oral lesions that have
 characteristics associated with a high risk of progression to cancer.
The clinician will place a fiber-optic probe designed to measure the polarized reflectance
 spectra over the visible optical region on a site of interest in the subject's mouth,
 including lesional mucosa, normal adjacent and contralateral mucosa. The site for placement
 of the probe will be determined by the examiner, an experienced Oral Pathologist. The probe
 examination will take no more than 15 minutes in addition to the subject's appointment time
 for their routine visits.

 A 4um unstained tissue section from surgery or biopsy, part of their scheduled care, will be
 requested for quantitative histological analysis. The morphometric parameters obtained from
 polarized reflectance measurements will be compared with the histology and quantitative
 pathology (nuclear phenotype score) from the tissue sections from the lesion. The collected
 spectra data from normal looking areas from adjacent normal looking mucosa and contralateral
 mucosa will be used to determine patient to patient variation in the polarized reflectance of
 oral mucosa.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  You attend the Dental Department at the British Columbia Cancer Agency

 -  You have an abnormal lesion in the mouth

 -  You fully understand the study and give your informed consent to participate as
 demonstrated by signing this consent form

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  You are under the age of 18 years.