Utility of toluidine blue staining and brush biopsy in precancerous and cancerous oral lesions

To evaluate the usefulness of toluidine blue and brush biopsy in precancerous oral lesions and squamous cell carcinoma. Study Design: The study was conducted at Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad, India. Ninety- six patients with suspicious oral lesions who attended the outpatient clinics of otorhinolaryngology were screened with in vivo toluidine blue staining and oral brush biopsy. Results: Oral brush biopsy showed high specificity and sensitivity. Toluidine blue staining was highly sensitive and moderately specific for malignant lesions but less sensitive for premalignant lesions. Conclusion: Early detection of oral carcinoma is possible even at the precancerous stages by using noninvasive, painless and outpatient procedures, such as in vivo toluidine blue staining and brush biops