Diagnostic Aids for Detection and Diagnosis of Oral Cancer

The goal of this clinical study is to find out if certain instruments/devices, such as wide field fluorescence imaging point spectroscopy and/or brush cytology, can help health care providers find mouth cancer more quickly than a standard oral clinical exam.

Study Procedures:

Certain types of light may cause cells to give off a tiny amount of light (called fluorescence). Researchers have learned that cancer cells and normal cells reflect light and give off fluorescence differently. Researchers want to find out if different kinds of light can be used to discover areas of the mouth that may have abnormal or cancerous cells.

If you agree to take part in this study, a researcher may use up to 3 types of imaging instruments to take pictures and readings of several areas in your mouth.

* VELScope is an FDA approved handheld camera device that takes images of the mouth with different colors of light. The VELScope shines blue light into the mouth, and pictures are taken using a camera that is attached to the device.
* Widefield Fluorescence Imaging uses a non-contact imaging device similar to the VELScope. It shines different colors of light and then takes pictures of the inside of the mouth using a digital camera.
* Point Spectroscopy System uses a probe (about the size of a tip of a pen) that is gently placed on several areas of the mouth. Different colors of light are directed through optic fibers to the lining of the mouth, and the probe collects the light that returns from the tissue and sends the information to a computer.

Researchers will record whether the doctors find any areas within your mouth that may not appear completely normal. They will collect tissue samples of these abnormal areas using a brush biopsy. To perform an oral brush biopsy, the research will press a small brush against an area inside your mouth, and turn it 5-10 times. The areas that could be biopsied include your gums, tongue, the roof of your mouth, the bottom of your mouth, or the inside of your cheeks. Any cells collected from the inside of your mouth will be placed on slides to be studied by the study team.

The samples being collected will only be used for this testing, and no leftover samples will be kept by the research staff.

These procedures should take about 20 minutes total.

This is an investigational study. The VELScope is an FDA approved device and is commercially available. Wide-field and point spectroscopy systems are not FDA approved and are only authorized for research. Up to 500 participants will take part in this multicenter study. Up to 250 will be enrolled at MD Anderson.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects 18 years and older who are willing to participate.
2. Persons presenting for: Physical or dental exams at outside health care centers OR Research meetings/gatherings OR Subjects identified at MDACC who are not already diagnosed with oral cancer or pre oral cancer: this includes patients with malignancies other than oral cancer, and visitors and family members, attendees of the HNS Oral Cancer Screening event who are willing to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects with a current diagnosis of oral cancer.
2. Subjects under the age of 18. It is extremely unusual for children to develop oral cancer, therefore data from persons younger than 18 may add unexpected variables which could affect data analysis.
3. Subjects who are unable or unwilling to give informed consent.