MODERN DIAGNOSTIC METHODS PRECANCEROUS AND CANCEROUS CHANGES OF THE ORAL MUCOSA

In our time cancer incidence and control are the most important tasks in medicine, and in dentistry in particular. According to the literature, every year in Russia for the first time revealed about 6000 patients with oral cancer. Over the past 15 years, the incidence of cancer of the oral mucosa, pharynx, larynx increased by 15-17%, and most importantly, almost 90% of patients are working people (30-60 years old). Despite the rather convenient for exploring the localization of tumors, the majority of patients act on treatment with locally-spread tumors (III-IV stages). Pre-cancerous in most cases precedes cancer. Precancer for a long time does not cause complaints in patients, and therefore is often not diagnosed in the early stages. Great difficulties arise in the differentiation of precancerous with the beginning of malignancy. Therefore, it is very important to timely detection and treatment, which increases the chance of cancer prevention and increase patient survival. Recognition of early forms of cancer prevents the neglect of the malignant process, and the treatment of tumors in the early stages helps to reduce mortality, which solves an important biomedical and social problem of oncology. This article is a review of current literature data concerning the diagnosis of precancerous and cancerous changes of the oral mucosa. The article discusses widely used methods and the latest technologies which ultimately should help doctors in the diagnostics of precancer and cancer of oral mucosa on daily work.