This new review investigated the effect of alcohol on 23 cancer types. They included 572 case-control and cohort studies and using meta-analysis and a dose–response meta-regression model found relative risks for heavy drinkers compared with nondrinkers and occasional drinkers were 5.13 for oral and pharyngeal cancer, 4.95 for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 1.44 for colorectal, 2.65 for laryngeal and 1.61 for breast cancer.
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Early detection of oral cancer improves prognosis so methods to improve diagnosis are welcome. The review we look at today looks at two light-based systems: chemiluminescence or autofluorescence. 25 studies were included and they are well summarised but few were tested in primary care. Neither system provided much improvement on the level of sensitivity and specificity achieved by conventional oral examination. Therefore it is suggested that these tools are better suited to specialist clinics in which there is a higher prevalence of disease and where experienced clinicians may better discriminate between benign and malignant lesions.
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November is Mouth Cancer Awareness month here in the UK and around 6,500 cases are diagnosed a year. Mouth cancer is the 6th commonest cancer worldwide. In India, Sir Lanka and Pakistan it is the most common cancer for men and is responsible for 30% of all new cancer cases. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, betel [read the full story…]
Worldwide oral and oropharyngeal cancer is the 6th most common cancer. Treatment often affects the individuals’ ability to eat, speak and interact with others and so is associated with significant physical and psychological burdens. This review aimed to describe the quality of life (QoL) outcomes and support needs in patients with oral cancer along the [read the full story…]
There are three new protocols on the February issue of the Cochrane Library The first protocol Carrasco-Labra A, Brignardello-Petersen R, Yanine N, Araya I, Rada G, Chadwick RG. Professionally-applied chemically-induced whitening of teeth in adults (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD010379. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010379. aims to assess the effects of [read the full story…]
December brings two new protocols to the Cochrane Library from the Cochrane Oral Health Group. The first of these:- Liu JLY, Walsh T, Kerr AR, Lingen M, Brocklehurst P, Ogden G, Warnakulasuriya S, Scully C. Diagnostic tests for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders in patients presenting with clinically evident lesions (Protocol). Cochrane Database of [read the full story…]
October saw one new Cochrane protocol published on the Cochrane Library which slipped passed the Elf’s gaze. Cope A, Francis N, Wood F, Mann MK, Chestnutt IG. Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD010136. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010136. The principal [read the full story…]
Oral mucositis is a common side effect of the treatment of malignancy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Two Cochrane reviews (see below) have looked more broadly at interventions for prevention and treatment of this unpleasant side effect of treatment. The aim of this review was to assess the protective effect of honey in head and neck [read the full story…]
The November issue of the Cochrane Library sees the publication a number of new oral health related protocols. This indicates research in progress, of course, and we would not expect results to be published for some time. However, people who are investigating these topic areas may like to know that a review is under way. [read the full story…]
There were more than 404,000 new cases of oral cancers worldwide in 2002. Oral cancer is the are the sixth most common cancer worldwide, accounting for an estimated 4% of all cancers. Incidence and mortality varies geographically. Surgery plays an important part of the management of oral cavity cancer with regard to both the removal [read the full story…]
