Screening for oral potentially malignant epithelial lesions and squamous cell carcinoma: a discussion of benefit and risk.

The etiopathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma is important as HPV-associated OSCC and OPC have higher cures rates than OSCC and OPC associated with tobacco and alcohol risk factors.3 Unfortunately, approximately 2/3 of lesions are identified at an advanced stage, thus affecting treatment options, requiring more complex therapy and increasing the morbidity of treatment and cost of care. The expectation that management of OPMD and earlystage squamous cell carcinoma will lead to improved outcomes has led to the goal of increasing efforts toward early detection. Although most OSCC cases are expected to be preceded by OPMD, it is not known whether OPC arises from potentially detectable precursor lesions.