ETIOPATHOGENESIS OF ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS: A CONCISE UPDATE

Abstract

Oral Submucous Fibrosis is a premalignant condition with a greater preponderance in countries such as India. Epithelial atrophy of the oral mucosa, juxta-epithelial inflammation, and chronic fibrosis of the lamina propria, resulting in the peculiar clinical presentations of progressive trismus, dysphagia, burning sensation and intolerance to spicy foods, blanched, opaque leather-like mucosa, thick fibrosed bands on the buccal mucosa in the retromolar area and at pterygomandibular raphe of this disease. Although many factors are responsible for the occurrence of OSMF, but multiple types of research have proven that areca nut is the primary causative factor in OSMF. It is an enigma to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons because of its chronic, progressive and higher malignant transformation. The present study was undertaken to assess the correlation between different factors and its course of disease progression as OSMF.