一種特制的光學設備可以早期檢測口腔癌，有助于口腔科醫生決定是否需要從口腔病變區域進行活檢。

該設備是由Calum MacAulay醫生研制開發的，他是不列顛哥倫比亞癌癥研究中心(Vancouver, Canada)影像學項目負責人，Pierre Lane的博士后研究員。這種視覺增強病變觀測儀VELScope是一種輕便的手工設備。在檢測光源上附著一根柔軟的索帶，視覺觀測器能夠對病變區域進行實時檢查。VELScope向口腔發射圓錐型光束，激活細胞內的分子，使其吸收光能，變成可視熒光。使用VELScope將光束投射入口腔中疼痛病變區域，并通過附著的目鏡進行檢測。正常的口腔組織發出淺綠色熒光，而早期腫瘤或者增生細胞發出暗綠色～黑色光。
 
Optical Device Detects Developing Oral Cancer
 
A customized optical device that facilitates early detection of oral cancer will help dentists decide whether it is necessary to biopsy abnormal lesions in the mouth.

Developed by Dr. Calum MacAulay, head of the British Columbia Cancer Research Center’s (Vancouver, Canada) imaging program, and post-doctoral fellow Pierre Lane, the visually enhanced lesion scope VELScope is a lightweight, hand-held device. A flexible cord is attached to the examination light, and a view finder allows direct evaluation of lesions in real time. The VELScope emits a cone of light into the mouth that excites molecules in cells causing them to absorb the light energy and reemit it as visible fluorescence. Using the VELScope, a light can be shone onto a suspicious sore in the mouth, which can be viewed through the attached eyepiece. Normal oral tissue emits a pale green fluorescence, while potentially early tumor or dyplastic cells appear dark green to black.