Use of Lugol’s Iodine Solution in Screening of Oral Premalignant and Malignant Lesions

Abstract

Background: This study also will help to identify the specific site of biopsy of oral pre-malignant and malignant lesions and to correlate lugol’s iodine solution staining of oral tissue with histological findings. Objective: The aim of this study to detect any suspicious of oral cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions as an early diagnostic tool. Methods: Sixty cases of oral lesions were selected irrespective of age, sex, religion or socioeconomic status of the patient considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patient selection was based on history, clinical examination and oral ulcers that do not heal more than two weeks. After staining of oral ulcer by Lugol’s iodine, histopathological examination was done from lightly staining area (Lugol’s iodine positive area) and another was deeply brown staining area (Lugol’s iodine negative area). Results: Out of 60 patients, 59(98.3%) patients were lightly stain, out of 59 patients, 35 were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (34 squamous cell carcinoma and one verrucous carcinoma), 22(36.7%) patients were pre-malignant (17 leukoplakias, 4 oral lichen planus and one erythroplakia) and 2(3.3%) patients were others (one hyperplastic change and one normal oral epithelium).One patient was deeply brown stain which was histopathologically normal oral epithelium. According to early screening of oral pre malignant and malignant lesions by Lugol’s iodine enhanced attention of the clinician to a suspicious site of malignant and pre-malignant lesions in oral cavity. Conclusion: Lugol’s iodine staining is more accurate than clinical or visual diagnosis.