Diagnostic aids in oral precancer and cancer

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) being one of the most common malignancy also with poor prognosis, needs to be diagnosed early for better treatment. As it develops in multistep process, it offers the advantage of diagnosing it at an early stage before it manifests as cancer. There are numerous adjuncts available that can assist in the early diagnosis of the cancer.With just basic techniques such as conventional examination, exfoliative cytology, vital staining in the beginning, there has been a tremendous improvement in these diagnostic adjuncts. The newer methodologies, molecular techniques and optical techniques are in the recent front.This article provides an overview of the various adjuncts available that aids in the diagnosis of precancer and cancer.