Methylene Blue and Lugol’s Iodine as an Adjunctive Tool for Early Diagnosis of Premalignant Oral Lesions

Abstract

Objective: To compare Methylene blue and
Lugol’s Iodine as6an adjunctive tool6for early
diagnosis of premalignant oral6lesions by taking
histopathology as gold standard.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study patients of
oral0premalignant lesions were selected. Methylene
blue and lugols iodine staining was used at lesion’s
area. Mucosa0of target site was dried gently by
gauze0and power0air0spray with triple syringe to
make sure that the0lesion is not0being contaminated
with0saliva. The dye was applied directly with a
cotton0bud for 10-20 seconds and was decolorized.
The dye retention pattern was evaluated by stain
retention’s intensity on the lesion. Incisional biopsy
was performed simultaneously from that site as gold
standard.
Results: Out of 60 cases, males were 81.6%.
Majority (65.0%) had more than one addicting habit
of mainpuri, gutka and supari. The commonest
region of oral lesions was the buccal6mucosa
(61.6%). According to the diagnostic accuracy of
methylene blue the sensitivity was 89.4% and
specificity was 66.6%. According to the Lugol’s
Iodine sensitivity was 83.3% and specificity was
50%.
Conclusion: Methylene blue and lugols iodine
staining are an easy and non-invasive screening tools
for the early diagnosis of malignancy.