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Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
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Factors Involved In the Diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Malaysia

SP Khoo, BDS, MSc, FFDRCSI

Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

P Shanmuhasuntharam, BDS, MDS, FDSRCEd.

Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

WM Mahadzir, BDS, FDSRCPS

Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

KK Tay, BDS, FDSRCSI

Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A Latif, BDS, FDSRCS

Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

S Nair, BDS, FDSRCS.

Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The delay in the diagnosis of oral cancer has been variously reported as being contributed by the clinicians, patients or both. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the referral pattern of 65 patients eventually diagnosed as having oral squamous cell carcinoma. The results showed that 50% of the patients delayed seeking professional help for more than 3 months after being aware of the lesion. The majority of the patients consulted medical practitioners as the first source of help. The mean clinicians' and patients' delay were 10.3 weeks and 28.9 weeks respectively. Dental practitioners showed a tendency to refer more advanced lesions compared to the medical practitioners. The findings raise the concern that lack of patients' awareness, misdiagnosis by clinicians and late detection by dental practitioners prevail thus calling for urgent measures towards early detection of the disease.

Key Words: Oral squamous cell carcinoma • diagnosis • delay

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 10, No. 1, 49-51 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/101053959801000111
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U. Mattsson, M. Jontell, and P. Holmstrup
ORAL LICHEN PLANUS AND MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION: IS A RECALL OF PATIENTS JUSTIFIED?
Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, September 1, 2002; 13(5): 390 - 396.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]