Enhancing Oral Cancer Detection: A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Accuracy and Future Integration of Optical Coherence Tomography with Artificial Intelligence.

Introduction: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has emerged as an important imaging modality in non-invasive diagnosis for oral cancer and can provide real-time visualisation of tissue morphology with the required high resolution. This systematic review aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of OCT in the detection of oral cancers, and to explore the potential integration of OCT with artificial intelligence (AI) and other imaging techniques to enhance diagnostic precision and clinical outcomes in oral healthcare. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register, and Web of Science from inception until August 2024. Studies were included if they employed OCT for oral cancer detection, reported diagnostic outcomes, such as sensitivity and specificity, and were conducted on human subjects. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. The synthesis highlights advancements in OCT technology, including AI-enhanced interpretations. Results: A total of 9 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a total of 860 events (cancer detections). The studies spanned from 2008 to 2022 and utilised various OCT techniques, including clinician-based, algorithm-based, and AI-driven interpretations. The findings indicate OCT's high diagnostic accuracy, with sensitivity ranging from 75% to 100% and specificity from 71% to 100%. AI-augmented OCT interpretations demonstrated the highest accuracy, emphasising OCT's potential in early cancer detection and precision in guiding surgical interventions. Conclusions: OCT could play a very prominent role as a new diagnostic tool for oral cancer, with very high sensitivity and specificity. Future research pointed towards integrating OCT with other imaging methods and AI systems in providing better accuracy of diagnoses, plus more clinical usability. Further development and validation with large-scale multicentre trials is imperative for the realisation of this potential in changing the way we practice oral healthcare.

Integrating oral health in stroke care: a critical necessity.

OBJECTIVES: To highlight the critical role of integrating oral health assessments into routine stroke care for better patient outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Eto et al. study utilizes the modified oral assessment grade (mOAG) to evaluate the oral health of acute ischemic stroke patients upon admission and its predictive value for functional outcomes and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). RESULTS: Evidence from Eto et al. study shows that mOAG scores at admission significantly predict 3-month functional outcomes and the incidence of HAP, emphasizing the need for comprehensive oral evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating oral health assessments into stroke care protocols can improve recovery outcomes, reduce HAP incidence, and lower healthcare costs through preventive oral care. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Routine oral health evaluations for stroke patients are crucial for better recovery and overall health outcomes, advocating for policy changes and multidisciplinary approaches to patient care.

Unmasking bowel obstruction in a Parkinson's patient: the influence of cognitive bias in frailty medicine.

Recognising emergent acute pathology in the context of established chronic conditions can be challenging and is often overlooked due to cognitive biases in the physician's decision making. In the context of Parkinson's disease (PD), there is a large overlap between the non-motor symptoms of PD, common gastrointestinal symptoms amongst the elderly population, and symptoms associated with acute, severe GI pathology, which can result in diagnostic overshadowing. Here, a 68-year-old man with a background of PD reported nausea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort during routine frailty review by his general practitioner (GP). The patient reported these were common symptoms which usually resolved with laxatives. Aware of the potentially sinister nature of this presentation, the GP arranged transfer to the emergency department where CT subsequently revealed a closed-loop small bowel obstruction. This case highlights how frailty medicine is particularly susceptible to cognitive biases, which are commonly cited sources of medical errors.