Effectiveness of crystallization test in screening of potentially malignant oral disorders and oral cancer

Evaluation of crystallization patterns in oral potentially malignant disorders and oral malignancies: A prospective study

Background

Oral cancers are often detected at late stages, and patients usually had a 50% chance of a 5-year survival rate. Oral cancer usually has an early precancerous stage before its actual malignant transformation. Although there are various approaches to diagnose the early stages of cancer, there is one less explored, cost-effective, and simple technique known as the crystallization test. The aim of the study was to evaluate the crystallization patterns in tobacco users, oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), and oral malignancies.

Materials and Methods

Fifteen patients with oral malignancies, 15 patients with oral potentially malignant disorders, 15 tobacco users, and 15 healthy individuals participated in the crystallization test. Single blood drop was used to perform this test and the obtained crystal patterns were analyzed.

Results

This test had a sensitivity of 93.3%, 80.0%, and 20.0% for oral malignancies, oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (PMDs), and tobacco users, respectively. Chi-square analysis revealed a highly significant transverse form between OPMDs and oral malignancies (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Crystallization test was found to be a sensitive, reliable, economical, and less invasive procedure for screening of oral PMDs and oral malignancies under strictly maintained physical conditions.

Diagnostic tests based on pattern formation in drying body fluids - A mapping review

There are numerous diagnostic tests based on pattern formation in desiccating body fluids, where the pattern or some of its characteristics constitute the diagnostic test outcome. However, partially due to the development in different time periods, and partially due to publications in languages different from English, most of these diagnostic tests exist as separate approaches and have never been grouped, systematized, nor compared with each other. In the present mapping review, we performed a wide literature search with the aim to collect all diagnostic tests based on pattern formation in desiccating body fluids. Furthermore, we grouped the identified diagnostic tests according to their experimental protocols, type of body fluids investigated, and target conditions, and propose so for the first time a classification of different diagnostic tests based on pattern formation in desiccating body fluids. The literature search revealed 1603 publications, out of which 141 were included into the review. Following three main classification criteria (way of deposition of the fluid for desiccation, addition of reagents, and spatial restrictions during evaporation), we identified six different methods; following a further classification concerning the analyzed body fluid we identified 30 different diagnostic tests based on pattern formation in evaporating body fluids. Amongst these tests are well-known procedures such as ferning tests (tear ferning for the assessment of tear film quality, saliva and cervical mucus ferning for the detection of the fertile period, and amniotic fluid ferning for the diagnosis of fetal membrane rupture), whereas other tests are less well-established. In the latter group, the most frequently investigated body fluids were serum, saliva, and blood; the most frequently addressed target conditions were cancer, inflammation, and benign tumors. We recommend conducting further systematic reviews and meta-analyses concerning groups of methods addressing the same target condition.

Potency of Pfeiffer's Crystallization to Analyze Oral Leukoplakia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Oral cancer usually has an early precancerous stage before its actual malignant transformation. Although there are various approaches to diagnose early stages of cancer, yet there is one less explored, cost effective and simple technique known as crystallization test. The aim of the study was to reaffirm the effectiveness of Pfeiffer's crystallization test in screening oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS

Fifty oral leukoplakia, sixty five oral squamous cell carcinoma and sixty healthy individuals participated in crystallization test. Single blood drop was used to perform the test and obtained crystal patterns were analysed. Cross tabulation and Chi-Square test was performed to find the frequency and association between the groups. Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann Whitney U test was applied comparing mean transverse form.

RESULTS

Sensitivity of crystallization test was 80% and 93.84% in oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma. Chi-Square analysis revealed highly significant transverse form between the study groups (p < 0.000).

CONCLUSION

Crystallization test proves to be simple, reliable and minimal invasive diagnostic approach under strictly maintained physical conditions.