Abstract C83: Dynamic Optical Contrast Imaging (DOCI): Oral screening in the underserved

Objective: Oral and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common cancer and disproportionately affects racial minorities via increased incidence and poorer rate of survival. Stage at presentation is one of the strongest prognostic indicators in new diagnoses; patients who present with advanced stage have 5-year survival rates of 42%, compared to patients who present at stage I with 5-year survival rates of 79%. Because five-year survival is directly related to stage at diagnosis, early detection of precancerous OSCC lesions could greatly reduce morbidity and improve patient survival. We aim to demonstrate the utility of a novel tool (Dynamic Optical Contrast Imaging; DOCI) in reliably and accurately delineating tumor tissue from surrounding normal tissues for earlier patient screening. Methods: OSCC specimens and surrounding tissues from the surgical bed were collected; fluorescence decay images were acquired using our DOCI system. Samples (55 patients) were subsequently processed and histologically assessed by head and neck pathologists. Mean relative fluorescence decay signatures were calculated for tumor, fat, muscle and collagen tissues. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: Statistical significance (P