Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Study of Patient Profile

Introduction: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a highly debilitating and irreversible condition, which is caused due to the effect of chewing gutkha and areca nut (supari) for prolonged periods. It is endemic in certain parts of the Indian sub-continent where the habit of chewing gutkha and supari is very common and is precancerous in nature. Aims and Objectives: (1) To determine the complete patient profile of patients with OSMF with respect to age, sex, education etc., (2) to determine the frequency and duration of usage of gutkha/supari, (3) to determine the various clinical presentations of this disease, (4) to compare the findings with available literature. Materials and Methods: The study was performed at our Hospital in Kanpur where a total of 141 cases were detected over 8 month's period. Patients were chosen from the outpatient department on the basis of clinical findings. A detailed history was taken regarding patient profile, duration of use of gutkha/pan, presenting complaints, etc. A detailed local examination was also done along with the assessment of the degree of mouth opening and findings were noted in a standard proforma. Mucosal biopsy was also done in all cases to establish a definitive diagnosis. Results: The results were analyzed in detail in relation to the above-mentioned parameters and compared with available literature. Conclusion: In this study, the male: Female ratio of patients with OSMF is 2.6:1 with most patients presenting in their third decade of life. Most patients were using the substance for 5-10 years at presentation and burning sensation in the mouth was the commonest complaint. 12.76% of patients had a growth in the oral cavity of which 94.4% were malignant, and the inner cheek mucosa was the most commonly involved site.