The use of autofluorescence stomatoscopy in the algorithm of diagnosing of the oral mucosal abnormalities of patients with tuberculosis infection

AIM . To evaluate the feasibility of using the autofluorescence stomatoscopy in dental examination of patients with tuberculosis infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS . The objects of the study were 75 patients aged 21 to 65 years (average age 47.9±2.1 years), 48 men and 27 women (64% and 36%, respectively) who are at the stages of treatment and reha bilitation of the underlying disease (pulmonary tuberculosis) in a specialized tuberculosis sanatorium. The design of the study included the generally standard stages of a comprehensive dental examination of patients, in which diseases of the oral mucosa and the red border of the lips were additionally detected using autofluorescence stomatoscopy, as well as a laboratory Candida test was carried out. The clinical picture of the diagnosed pathological conditions of the oral mucosa, autofluorescence images and their pathomorphological features were compared. The reports of the examined persons regarding the autofluorescence stomatoscopy were evaluated. RESULTS . It was shown that diseases of the oral mucosa and the red border of the lips in patients with tuberculosis infection are highly common (92%), are found more often in males and differ in the heterogeneity of their structure, which is dominated by candidiasis of the oral mucosa, traumatic lesions and various forms of cheilitis. The features of autofluorescence images of pathological conditions of the oral mucosa of different nature of the origin are marked. Positive feedback from patients after the autofluorescence stomatoscopy was recorded in 100% of cases. CONCLUSIONS . The use of the autofluorescence stomatoscopy in the algorithm of dental examination of patients with tuberculosis infection is appropriate because it allows to implement the principle of oncological alertness among specialists, helps the doctor to obtain additional information about the pathological process in real time and increases the motivation of the examined persons to maintain dental health.