Recent CommentsViziLite and Oral Cancer Early Detection
posted in Oral Surgery
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Print This PostAny thoughts on Zila´s ViziLite Oral Cancer screening device? Has anybody used this? How does this compare to other oral cancer screening tests?
Of note is that Zila, Inc. manufacturer and marketer of ViziLite(R) Plus, recently announced that it has reached an agreement where CIGNA Dental, one of the nation’s leading dental insurance carriers, now covers the ViziLite Plus exam in some of its plans. ViziLite Plus is the most advanced technology in the marketplace for early detection of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer.
Zila’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Douglas D. Burkett said, “CIGNA Dental’s coverage of our ViziLite Plus exam in some of its plans, coupled with the growing demand for ViziLite Plus nationwide, validates the enormous potential of this product and our pipeline of products for the early detection of oral cancer. As early detection technologies like mammograms, Pap smears, and PSAs have increased the survival rates over the years for people with breast, cervical and prostate cancer, ViziLite Plus is quickly establishing itself as THE early detection technology for oral cancer, now the sixth deadliest cancer worldwide based on survival rates.”
“There are several reasons people don’t get cancer screening,” said Scottsdale, Arizona dentist Paul Douglas. “They don’t know about the exam, they think it will hurt, they fear the results or they can’t afford it. Dentists are getting more involved in telling their patients about oral cancer and associated risks. We’re showing how quick and simple the ViziLite Plus exam is. We’re explaining the upside of early detection. And now, with CIGNA coverage available, we’re able to provide the ViziLite Plus test, which normally costs around $65, at no or just minimal added cost. One American dies every hour from oral cancer. By putting a new light on this disease, maybe we can conquer oral cancer.”
What are your thoughts?
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5 Responses to “ ViziLite and Oral Cancer Early Detection ”
What is the positive & negative predictive value of VizLite?
I would wait for this - RNA test on salive might be more predictive/accurate.
http://www.mydna.com/health/oral/news/news_20060309_oral_cancer_saliva_test.html
I had a few questions about the ViziLite that were answered by their representatives at a major dental meeting, and they were answered to my satisfaction. The 1% raspberry flavored acetic acid rinse, is just that, a rinse to clean the tissue. I was told it does not contain any “activators” of any kind. Next, I was curious about the wavelength of the chemoluminescent light. It turns out that it is the same wavelength as a composite curing light! So, this test is already available to most dentists without the cost of any special supplies. You could use plain 1% acetic acid by diluting white vinegar from the food store, which starts out as 5% acetic acid, and shining the composite curing light on it. You’ve already got a curing light so all you need is a bottle of vinegar and water from the faucet. Use one part vinegar and four parts water to make a 1% solution. It really doesn’t taste bad unflavored.
I have not tested it yet, but I am willing to bet you could also use a diluted solution of lemon juice as an acidifed rinse to accomplish the same thing if you wanted a different flavor.
I do believe that the principles in using the ViziLite are valid, but can be accomplished in a simpler manner.
I use vizilite, and research other products on the market before chosing it. I did not have to buy an expensive piece of equipment that only provided a light with little or no clinical studies. Much of the clinical studies I read indicated that vizilite has 100% sensitivity, and found lesions that were missed by oral medicine specialist. But what did it for me…
a British Columbia study that..and I’m paraphrasing…after following patients, who had a false positive toludine blue exam, 80% of the patients ended up with oral cancer within 4 years. I’ve looked into all the oral cancer screening products on the market, and only Vizilite has an FDA approved toluidine blue dye incorporated into their product. In my own pratice, I’ve found that the toluidine blue stains the areas of a lesion that are more likely to be precancer or cancerous cells a darker blue. This means that my oral surgeon knows where on the lesion to take his biopsy. Again, Vizilite is the only one that has this ability…it’s really not about the brightest or color of “light” it’s about which one offers toluidine blue!
Brents statistis on that crucail study are highly inaccurate and give Vizilite a bad image. The mailgnant transformation rate over a 7 -10 year period is only 37 percent! That is still worth using the product!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Working for the company that manufactures the product, you also have to realize it comes with a medical grade toluidine blue dye which you aren’t able to get at your grocery store. The dye will stain to cancerous lesions and allow the dentist to photograph the lesion(s) which will help a specialist see where the lesion is and improve the accuracy of getting a good biopsy. Another great thing about ViziLite and what we have worked hard on is getting the screening covered under many of the major insurance agencies. There are a few codes made specifically for our products. It is also a screening that the patient can see, letting your patients know you are screening them for cancer, there are many lawsuits out there that claim the dentists failed to screen them for cancer.
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