Comparative study of effectiveness of colposcopic examination versus visual examination for determining the biopsy site of potentially premalignant oral epithelial lesions.

Diagnosis of oral malignant and potentially premalignant oral epithelial lesions (PPOELs) cannot be based solely on clinical findings. Tissue biopsy with histopathologic examination remains the gold standard in diagnosis. Selection of a representative biopsy site becomes essential to arrive at an early and precise diagnosis which substantially reduces the incidence of morbidity and mortality from oral cancer.